Obituary of Anna Mae Kimball

Anna Mae Kimball (Boeckman) passed away peacefully on June 21, 2021, in her apartment at the Edgewood Vista Memory Unit in Duluth, MN. She was 90 years old. Anna Mae was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Chester (Bob), her son Ronald Joseph and her sister Kathleen Devries. She is survived by sons Dick (Marcia), Larry (Genell), Brad (Sharie) and Chuck (Mary, twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Anna Mae was born in Murdo, SD on February 15, 1931. She grew up in Belvidere, SD with her mother Mary and sister Kate surrounded by family and love. As teenagers, she and sister Kate took jobs as overnight telephone operators. She met the love of her life, Bob and they were wed on July 7, 1951, in Belvedere. They spent the next several years on the Berry ranch where they were blessed with three sons. In 1957 they moved to Lead, SD where they were blessed with two more sons. In the fall of 1969, with five busy boys aged 5 to 17, Anna Mae enrolled in college. In 1973 she graduated with a BA in education from Black Hills State College. In 1974 the family moved to Duluth, MN. Anna Mae went back to the switchboard as a telephone operator in the Duluth Federal Building. When the switchboard was automated, she took a position as a clerk with the U.S. Forest Service issuing thousands of permits to the campers visiting the BWCA. In 1993 Anna Mae and Bob retired. They spent the next seven years as snowbirds in Mesa, AZ where they kept busy with new friends, crafts, and parades. When back in Minnesota, Anna Mae filled her days with crafts and reading. She subscribed to a dozen magazines and purchased hundreds of cookbooks. Through the years, holiday gatherings were numerous and filled with good food and an abundance of treats. Delicious cakes, pies and candies were well represented at any gathering. Between holidays was the time to make animal quilts for grandkids, crochet Sesame Street and Strawberry Shortcake dolls and tat both doilies and hot pads. Her memory lives not only in the many crafts she produced but also in all of those she loved.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, August 9 at 11:00 am at the Kitchi Gammi Club located at 831 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802 with lunch to follow. The celebration may also be attended by use of Zoom. If you are interested in joining us online, please contact Chuck at seekimball@gmail.com for connection information.