Patricia "Patsy" Boesen

Patricia "Patsy" Boesen

Des Moines

On Saturday, July 1, 2017, at three in the morning, surrounded by her adoring family, Patsy Boesen passed peacefully from this life, and became an angel. The nurse who attended Patsy in her final hours remarked that her passing was exactly how every mother would wish to go.

Patsy was born Patricia Regina Margaret Mary Elizabeth Ann Louise Rice on January 22, 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska, to Frank and Catherine Rice. She grew up in Omaha and Detroit, Michigan where her father served as Director of Sales for the truck division of the Ford Motor Company.

Patsy moved with her family to Des Moines as a teenager. After graduating from St. Augustin's School and St. Joseph's Academy in 1941, she began a career with the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. Her lunchtime walks through downtown invariably included passing by a flower shop on the corner of 7th and Grand, where she attracted the attention and affection of a young florist, Ted Boesen, who was managing his family's shop at that location.

Patsy and Ted were married on August 23rd, 1947 at St. Augustin's Church, held a reception at Hoyt Sherman Place and honeymooned at Lake Okoboji. They settled in a modest home on 40th Place in Beaverdale, where they welcomed their eldest daughter, Buff, and the twins, Ted and Katie. In 1951 they moved three blocks to Adams Avenue where they welcomed Tom, Bob, Jerry and Frank and in 1964 moved another three blocks to Ted's boyhood home on Beaver, where they welcomed their youngest son, Ed, and spent the remainder of their life together.

Patsy had hardly any hobbies, besides the bridge club, which met every other Saturday night for over sixty years. She spent her entire life loving her family and friends and serving her church and community. She did enjoy spending long summer weekends at Clear Lake, which each evening, weather permitting, included an evening "sunset cruise."

She served on many boards, including the Board of Education of Holy Trinity School, the Board of Education of the Diocese of Des Moines, and the Dowling Foundation, to name but a few. She was appointed by Governor Ray to the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women and was named Dowling/St. Joseph Distinguished Alumnae. Her crowning achievement was the wonderful family she nurtured and cherished and who cherish her memory.

She is survived by her daughters, Sister Buff and Katie; sons: Ted (Connie), Tom (Patty), Bob (Christie), Jerry (Mary Jo), Frank (Geri) and daughter-in-law Maureen; 24 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren at last count. Patsy has now joyously rejoined her husband, Ted, her son, Ed, her parents, her sisters, Mary Ellen and Kay, her brother, Frank and her grandson, Barrett.

The family will receive friends 4-7 pm, Wednesday, July 5th at Holy Trinity Catholic Church where a Vigil Service will begin at 7pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Thursday, July 6th at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery.

The family suggests that any memorial contributions may be directed to Holy Trinity Church, Dowling Catholic High School, The Sisters of Loretto or the Barrett Boesen Foundation for Children. Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com.