Alice Sorensen

Alice Sorensen

Ringsted

Mass: 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 8 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Armstrong. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, with a Vigil at 7 p.m., at Henry-Olson Funeral Home, Estherville. Alice Marie (Ulrich) Sorensen, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Carrigan) Ulrich, was born August 6, 1915, in Ayrshire, Iowa. She passed away Saturday, February 2, 2013, at Good Samaritan Society in Estherville, Iowa, at the age of 97.

Alice was raised in Aryshire, and attended Mallard, Iowa, schools, graduating from Mallard High School. After completing high school, Alice attended college at University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduating with her Teaching Certificate. Later she did graduate work at the University of Minnesota.

On July 17, 1950, Alice was united in marriage to James A. Sorensen in Northwood, Iowa. The couple made their home in the Ringsted area where Jim farmed, and they also owned and operated Sorensen Trucking Business. Alice taught school for many years in Iowa and Minnesota. She taught school for 27 years in Ringsted Town School, retiring in 1976. Alice took great pride in her teaching career and was honored as an outstanding educator at the Ringsted Centennial. Alice also worked as bookkeeper for Nevill Brothers Implement in Estherville. Besides teaching Alice was active in her community including: Being a Judge for Little Miss Iowa Pageants for ten years; serving on advisory boards at Valley Vue Care Center for three years; volunteering ten years as receptionist at Fairmont Community Hospital; served on Fairmont Hospital Foundation Board for three years and served on the advisory board for Emmet County Historical Society for five years. The couple also traveled extensively in the United States, Canada and Denmark. One of their most memorable trips was spending their Silver Wedding observance on the Baltic Sea with friends from Ringsted. Jim died February 21, 1997.

Alice was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church; Ringsted American Legion Auxiliary; Catholic Daughters of America; St. Mary's Altar Society; Avera Holy Family Hospital Auxiliary and the Danish American Fellowship. She was a life-time member of National Education Association; Iowa State Education Association; National Association of English Teachers; National Association of Teachers for Social Studies; Fairmont Community Hospital and the Emmet County Historical Society.

Left to cherish Alice's memory are her siblings, Margaret Kelly of Clovis, California; Eileen Lark of Santa Rosa, California; Helen Rose (Rosie) Mulvihill of Aitken, Minnesota; and John Ulrich of Des Moines, Iowa; special friend, Helle Jorvad-Lund of Ringsted, Denmark; and also many nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceding Alice in death were her husband; parents; brother, James and sister, Mary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Avera Holy Family Hospice.