Eunice Marie Aiken

Eunice M. Aiken August 11, 1926 - June 14, 2023 Eunice Marie (Bohrer) Aiken, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2023, at N.C. Little Hospice in Edina, Minnesota of pleomorphic sarcoma. Eunice lived a life of unwavering dedication to her church, family, and her profession. Eunice was a pioneer working mother who greatly enjoyed the challenges of a professional career while raising six children alongside her beloved husband of 55 years, Russell Aiken, who preceded her in death in 2003. Eunice's loyalty to her family was unwavering, and she embraced the joys and challenges of motherhood with grace and fortitude. Born on August 11th, 1926, in Pinckneyville, Illinois, to Reverend Erhard and Lilly Bohrer, Eunice spent her formative years in Murphysboro, Illinois where her father was a Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor for many years. She graduated from Murphysboro High School in 1944 and attended the Lutheran Hospital school as a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, graduating in 1947. During her six decade career as a nurse, Eunice devoted herself to the newborn nursery, expertly nurturing infants through the critical first week of life. Her expertise earned her the respect of many parents and colleagues. She also educated young mothers on early pregnancy and birth control best practices. Her legacy lives on in those she helped bring into the world including many who started life under difficult circumstances and many of whom have kept in touch over the years. She would glow with pride describing her special connection to those once little babies as they grew to adulthood. Eunice met Russ on a blind date in St. Louis and they later married in 1948. As newlyweds they routinely traveled between family homesteads in St. Louis, MO and Fargo, ND. Deciding to split up the trip, they got off the train in 1949 in Minneapolis to look around, boarded a trolly car, and ended up buying a house in St. Louis Park, MN before getting back on the train to continue the trip up to Fargo. Eventually, they settled in Minnetonka to raise a family in the home that Russ built and was later purchased and updated by his oldest son Gary and wife Regina to raise their family. After Russ's passing in 2003, Eunice ran into Joe Calandro at a high school reunion and they rekindled a friendship and eventually a great relationship that lasted until Joe's death in 2011. Joe was truly embraced and loved by the whole family. Eunice is preceded in death by her parents, Erhard and Lilly Bohrer, sisters Helen Brommer, Mary Koepsell, brother John Bohrer, and granddaughter Larissa Aiken. Eunice was a role model, communicator and supporter of her family and loved ones. She cherished being a mom, finding joy sprinkled with patient exasperation in every milestone, celebration, and challenge shared with her six children: Gary (Regina), Roger(Sue), David(Durand Jones), Debbie Thompson (Matt), Bob(Kathy), and Jim(Kirsten Pauly). Eunice's legacy lives on through her sister Dorothy Rosenwinkel (late of Howard) and nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom were recipients of her love, wisdom, and nurturing spirit. Visitation will be at 10 am followed by a memorial service at 11am celebrating Eunice's life on Thursday, June 22nd, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran church in Plymouth, MN. Burial with brief ceremony will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Tuesday, June 27th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made to either N.C. Little Hospice (www.littlehospice.org) or Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church-Maple Grove, MN. As we bid farewell to Eunice, let us find solace in the memories we shared and the love she bestowed upon us. May her soul find eternal peace, and may her spirit continue to guide and inspire us all. Beautiful Savior Funeral Service Livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OBmVDg_4QE

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Eunice Marie Aiken

August 11, 1926 - June 14, 2023

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