Jean Boxrud, 94, of Hettinger, ND passed away at her home in Hettinger, ND on Saturday, December 2, 2023.

Gathering of Family and Friends will be Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. MT at the Hettinger Lutheran Church basement Fellowship Hall.

Jean Arlene (Austin) Boxrud 94 was born in Red Wing Minnesota on September 26, 1929 to Almond and Georgia (Russell) Austin. She was raised in Hager City Wisconsin and attended school there thru the eighth grade. She went on to graduated from Central High School in Red Wing, MN in 1948.

Jean's summers were spent working a variety of jobs including a dairy farm, and waitressing. In 1947-48 she spent time hand painting dish patterns for the Red Wing Pottery Factory.

In the fall of 1948 she entered Bethesda Hospital School of Nursing attending Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota receiving her RN status in the fall of 1951. While there she meet the love of her life, a young Louisburg MN farm boy Robert Lloyd Boxrud who was a student at the Luther Seminary in St Paul. They were married on January 14, 1952 at St Anthony Park Lutheran Church in St. Paul. To this union four Children were born. Mark, LeeAnn, Daniel, and Shelly.

Jean's nursing career began after graduating in Red Wing MN. After her marriage she worked in the O.R. at Ancker Hospital in St Paul. In the summer of 1952 she got a job in Appleton MN at the new hospital setting up their O.R. and Central Services. Jean was a accomplished Operating Room nurse. She later worked back at Bethesda in St. Paul, Montevideo MN, and Hastings MN, all in the O.R. After returning to Hettinger in 1971 she worked as the supervising O.R. nurse for 15 years at the Hettinger Community Memorial Hospital (West River Health Services) retiring October 1986.

Jean's life revolved around home, family, church and friends. She was an talented counted cross stitch artist creating many pieces for her family and friends. She also enjoyed music, reading, watching the Twins play baseball, and doing volunteer work in the church and community.

She is survived by three children Mark (Jaci) Boxrud of Mora MN, LeeAnn (Rodney) Lutz of rural Hettinger ND, and Daniel (Dawn) Boxrud of Hettinger ND, Two Sisters Gerri (Darrell) Papenbrook of San Diego CA, Kay Cooper of Deerwood MN, eleven grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Her spirit has now reunited with her husband Robert, daughter Shelly Kay, her parents, sister Hazel, brother-in-laws John, and Robert, and countless extended family and friends

Cremation has taken place with an internment service for Robert and Jean planned for the spring. (Mom said not in the winter please)

A small gathering for sharing stories and memories is being planned. Date and time will be posted at Hettinger Lutheran Church, and shared by the family.