Geneva Burcham

Geneva Rovine Burcham, 67, Perham, MN, died June 20, 2009 unexpectedly at Park View Hospital in Ft. Wayne, IN. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Saturday, June 27 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Perham, MN. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Geneva Rovine Burcham was born January 31, 1942 in Kahoka, Missouri to Warren and Norma (Buntin) Howe. The family moved to Oregon where Geneva was raised. Geneva was united in marriage with Ervin Burcham in Oregon July 6, 1959. Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to North Dakota where she worked as a special education teacher for the school district. She moved to Perham, MN in 1981 where she worked as a school aide.  She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Geneva enjoyed camping, four-wheeling, garage saleing, gardening, taking care of her grandchildren, watching Animal Planet and sci-fi movies. She will be profoundly missed by all who knew her. Her giving heart and kind words softened many a heart, and, for this she will be dearly missed.

Survivors include five daughters, Gale (Mark) Duncan in Oregon, Theresa (David) Hancock, Sr. of Valley City, ND, Patricia (Joseph) Thunstrom of Ft. Wayne, IN, Kathy (Keith) Lilley of Perham, MN, Crystal (Joseph) Andrie of Perham, MN; two sons, Michael (Jackie) Berchum of Wadena, MN, David (Karen) Berchum of Wadena, MN; 41 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Danny Howe of Missouri, Dale “Skeeter” of Oregon; two sisters, Martha and Debra, both in Oregon; special family friends, Amy Hein, Carmon Eller, Michael Hatchard and Wilma Heidorn; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin; her parents, Norma and Dale McElroy and Warren Howe; her grandpa, Harvey; son-in-law, Robert Freyholtz; and granddaughters, Maria Lynn Hahn-Burcham and Larissa Paige Burcham.