1924
Alvina
2016
Alvina Drewlow
June 11, 1924 — January 16, 2016
Alvina June Drewlow, formerly Breckenridge, MN, went to be with her Savior on January 16, 2016, under the care of hospice and surrounded by her family at Northeast Care and Rehabilitation Center, Rosholt, SD. The funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 11:00 AM, on Friday, January 22, 2016, at Grace Lutheran Church, Breckenridge, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service and on Thursday, January 21, 2016, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM, at Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, MN.
Alvina June Meissner was born June 11, 1924 in Fargo, ND, to William and Christine (Miller) Meissner. Alvina spent most of her childhood years on her parent's farm in Deerhorn Township near Wolverton, MN. Alvina attended a one-room country school through 8th grade, and graduated from Wolverton High School in 1942 as salutatorian. After a year, she attended Moorhead State Teacher's College in Moorhead, MN for one year. She then began teaching grades 1-8 in a one room school house near Kent, MN (District 78). During the summer of 1945, Alvina returned to college and completed the two year course necessary to get a Minnesota elementary teaching certificate, and continued teaching another year in the District 78 country school. The next two school years she taught at the "Drewlow School" in Wilkin County. During this time she was united in marriage to Melvin Leonard Drewlow on August 25, 1946, a decorated World War II veteran, at the Deerhorn Township Presbyterian Church. They made their home on a farm near Wolverton. Alvina decided in 1949 to leave her teaching career and raise their three children and help manage their grain, hog and dairy farm. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, baking and canning.
In 1960 she returned to teaching at Wilkin County country school (grades 1-8) known as the "Priebe School" for 4 years; then she taught the first and second grade classroom at Wolverton Public School from 1964 through 1978. In 1971, Alvina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University. Melvin passed away on February 11, 1976, and a few years later Alvina moved to Breckenridge where she taught second grade at Breckenridge Public School until her retirement in 1987.
Following her retirement, Alvina continued to devote her life to her family and doing volunteer work. Throughout her life, she focused on helping anyone in need, whether it was her students or people living all over the world. She was active in Christ Lutheran Church of Mitchell Township, teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and in Grace Lutheran Church in Breckenridge, participating in the women's missionary league. She made hundreds of quilts that were given to family members, friends and Lutheran World Relief. She collected second-hand clothing for the Orphan Grain Train, sending lots of clothing worldwide. She was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars women's auxiliary, promoting patriotism in the local community. Alvina was also an active member of the Breckenridge Education Association, the Breckenridge Senior Citizen's Center, and volunteered to teach adults to read in the community.
Alvina will be dearly missed by her children, Maryanne (James) Levery, Rutland, ND and Eugene (Becky) Drewlow, Carrington, ND; her 10 grandchildren and their families: Clayton Ernst, Breckenridge, MN; Phillip Murdoff, Bismarck, ND; Carla Sheeley, Wahpeton, ND; Angela Hofmann, Breckenridge, MN; Melanie Harrom, Bemidji, MN; Leah Martin, Argusville, ND; Bridgett Versdahl, Breckenridge, MN; Joel Drewlow, Wahpeton, ND; and Elizabeth Drewlow, Lynnwood, WA; fourteen great- grandchildren; her siblings, Kathleen (Reuben) Brand of Queen Creek, AZ and Robert (Phyllis) Meissner of Moorhead, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Christine Meissner; her husband, Melvin Drewlow; her daughter, Sylvia Ernst; her grandson, Jason Ernst; her son-in-law, Ervin Ernst; and her sister, Helen (Leo) Bader.
Alvina June Meissner was born June 11, 1924 in Fargo, ND, to William and Christine (Miller) Meissner. Alvina spent most of her childhood years on her parent's farm in Deerhorn Township near Wolverton, MN. Alvina attended a one-room country school through 8th grade, and graduated from Wolverton High School in 1942 as salutatorian. After a year, she attended Moorhead State Teacher's College in Moorhead, MN for one year. She then began teaching grades 1-8 in a one room school house near Kent, MN (District 78). During the summer of 1945, Alvina returned to college and completed the two year course necessary to get a Minnesota elementary teaching certificate, and continued teaching another year in the District 78 country school. The next two school years she taught at the "Drewlow School" in Wilkin County. During this time she was united in marriage to Melvin Leonard Drewlow on August 25, 1946, a decorated World War II veteran, at the Deerhorn Township Presbyterian Church. They made their home on a farm near Wolverton. Alvina decided in 1949 to leave her teaching career and raise their three children and help manage their grain, hog and dairy farm. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, baking and canning.
In 1960 she returned to teaching at Wilkin County country school (grades 1-8) known as the "Priebe School" for 4 years; then she taught the first and second grade classroom at Wolverton Public School from 1964 through 1978. In 1971, Alvina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University. Melvin passed away on February 11, 1976, and a few years later Alvina moved to Breckenridge where she taught second grade at Breckenridge Public School until her retirement in 1987.
Following her retirement, Alvina continued to devote her life to her family and doing volunteer work. Throughout her life, she focused on helping anyone in need, whether it was her students or people living all over the world. She was active in Christ Lutheran Church of Mitchell Township, teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and in Grace Lutheran Church in Breckenridge, participating in the women's missionary league. She made hundreds of quilts that were given to family members, friends and Lutheran World Relief. She collected second-hand clothing for the Orphan Grain Train, sending lots of clothing worldwide. She was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars women's auxiliary, promoting patriotism in the local community. Alvina was also an active member of the Breckenridge Education Association, the Breckenridge Senior Citizen's Center, and volunteered to teach adults to read in the community.
Alvina will be dearly missed by her children, Maryanne (James) Levery, Rutland, ND and Eugene (Becky) Drewlow, Carrington, ND; her 10 grandchildren and their families: Clayton Ernst, Breckenridge, MN; Phillip Murdoff, Bismarck, ND; Carla Sheeley, Wahpeton, ND; Angela Hofmann, Breckenridge, MN; Melanie Harrom, Bemidji, MN; Leah Martin, Argusville, ND; Bridgett Versdahl, Breckenridge, MN; Joel Drewlow, Wahpeton, ND; and Elizabeth Drewlow, Lynnwood, WA; fourteen great- grandchildren; her siblings, Kathleen (Reuben) Brand of Queen Creek, AZ and Robert (Phyllis) Meissner of Moorhead, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Christine Meissner; her husband, Melvin Drewlow; her daughter, Sylvia Ernst; her grandson, Jason Ernst; her son-in-law, Ervin Ernst; and her sister, Helen (Leo) Bader.
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