Individual Details
Alice Elvira Engstrom
(9 Oct 1910 - 26 Apr 1998)
BIOGRAPHICAL:
Alice modestly said of herself-- "Worked at Hudson Community Schools for
43 years as secretary to the Superintendent of Schools; also worked for
various lawyers when the regular girls were on vacation. Taught Sunday
School and sang in church choir."
Hudson Star Observer, 4 Oct 1973
Alice Hoyer Ends 42 Years As Hudson School Secretary
Mrs. Alice Hoyer retired Sept. 24 from her position as secretary of the
Hudson Community Schools, a post she has held for more than 42 years.
She has no immediate plans for the future other than "taking things a
little easier". She said perhaps at a later date she might consider some
type of part time work.
A Hudson native and the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Engstrom,
she was graduated from Hudson High School in 1928, and afterward attended
the Calhoun Business School in Minneapolis.
Even while a junior and a senior in high school she had become so
proficient in typing and short hand that she was sought after as a steno-
grapher by the legal profession. She recalls that she filled in frequently
after school, Saturdays and during vacations in the office of the late Judge
Otto W. Arnquist, and in the law offices of Lynn H. Ashley, Spencer Haven
and William and Elbert Webster.
In Nov. 1930, she became secretary to E. P. Rock, then principal-super-
intendent of the Hudson public schools. Upon Rock's retirement in 1964,
Mrs. Hoyer continued as secretary to the new superintendent, A. B. Ogland.
Her husband, the late Alfred S. Hoyer, died in 1956.
"Along Our Street" by Willis Miller, Hudson Star Observer, 4 Oct 1973
Anyone who attended Hudson High school in the last 42 years knows Alice
Engstrom Hoyer.
She's been secretary and major-domo in the office of the principal all
those years. Last week she retired without any fanfare or celebration.
She's just going to take it a little easier.
She served superintendent E. P. Rock until his retirement, and for the
past few years, superintendent A. B. Ogland has been her boss.
I know from first hand experience, how very important she has been to the
school students, faculty, and administration. When I was a junior-senior at
HHS during the Great Depression I worked for the NYA (National Youth
Administration) in the high school office. My boss was Alice Engstrom
Hoyer. She had everything under control and if you wanted to know anything
about the school, Alice knew it.
The most used phrase in the school was "Ask Alice - she knows!" She was
always even tempered, generous and fun to work with. And above all she was
dedicated and highly knowledgeable about every facet of school activities.
Such devotion to a job is seldom seem in these days. She has been a great
asset to our school system these many years.
At her request, no formal observance was made of her retirement. She is
much too unassuming for such a demonstration.
However, a group of her friends and colleages feel that such service and
devotion to a job should not go unnoticed.
A committee, composed of A. B. Ogland, W. G. Heiting, Molly Kaiser, Helen
Hughes and Margaret Dorwin, is honoring her by collecting for a gift and a
purse.
HSO, 30Apr1998, p17a
Alice Elvira Christianson, 87, a lifelong Hudson resident, died Sunday, April 26, at the Christian Community Home in Hudson, where she resided since the fall of 1993.
She was born in Hudson Oct. 9, 1910, the daughter of John B. and Anna (Staberg) Engstrom, and attended local schools, graduating from Hudson High School in 1928.
During her high school ears her favorite courses were typing and shorthand. As a junior and senior she had become so proficient that she was sought after as a stenographer by the legal profession. She frequently worked after school, Saturdays and during vacations in the office of Judge Otto W. Anrquist and in the law offices of Hudson attorneys Lynn H. Ashley, Spencer Haven, William B. Webster and Elbert Webster.
After graduating from high school she attended Calhoun Business School in Minneapolis.
In November 1930, she became the secretary of principal/superintendent Edward P. Rock in the Hudson school system. When Rock retired in 1964 she continued as secretary for the new superintendent, A.B. Ogland, until her retirement in 1973.
In 1945 she was honored when the True Blue annual of that year was dedicated to her. The dedication stated, "In appreciation for her never ceasing service to the school and the students, the efficient, capable work done in the office, her eagerness to help individuals, her smile and friendliness to all..."
Her first marriage in 1949 was to Alfred S. Hoyer, who died in 1956. She was later married May 21, 1976, to Emil H. Christianson at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in River Falls. He died in 1979.
Her hobbies included collecting stuffed animals and painting figurines. She had been a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson.
Survivors are a nephew, William R. ("Bill") (Judith) Engstrom of Hudson and two nieces, Jean Carol (Jayson) Tritt of North Hudson and Judith (James Beaudry) of St. Charles, MO.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her two husbands; two brothers, Donald J. Engstrom (1990) and Raymond A. Engstrom (1997); and a sister, Helen L. Keyes (1995).
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at O'Connell's Family Funeral Home in Hudson with the Rev. Dennis Nelson officiating. The organist was Jan Fredrick, who accompanied vocalist Sally Halvorson.
Burial was in Willow River Cemetery in Hudson where nieces and nephews served as casketbearers.
Alice modestly said of herself-- "Worked at Hudson Community Schools for
43 years as secretary to the Superintendent of Schools; also worked for
various lawyers when the regular girls were on vacation. Taught Sunday
School and sang in church choir."
Hudson Star Observer, 4 Oct 1973
Alice Hoyer Ends 42 Years As Hudson School Secretary
Mrs. Alice Hoyer retired Sept. 24 from her position as secretary of the
Hudson Community Schools, a post she has held for more than 42 years.
She has no immediate plans for the future other than "taking things a
little easier". She said perhaps at a later date she might consider some
type of part time work.
A Hudson native and the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Engstrom,
she was graduated from Hudson High School in 1928, and afterward attended
the Calhoun Business School in Minneapolis.
Even while a junior and a senior in high school she had become so
proficient in typing and short hand that she was sought after as a steno-
grapher by the legal profession. She recalls that she filled in frequently
after school, Saturdays and during vacations in the office of the late Judge
Otto W. Arnquist, and in the law offices of Lynn H. Ashley, Spencer Haven
and William and Elbert Webster.
In Nov. 1930, she became secretary to E. P. Rock, then principal-super-
intendent of the Hudson public schools. Upon Rock's retirement in 1964,
Mrs. Hoyer continued as secretary to the new superintendent, A. B. Ogland.
Her husband, the late Alfred S. Hoyer, died in 1956.
"Along Our Street" by Willis Miller, Hudson Star Observer, 4 Oct 1973
Anyone who attended Hudson High school in the last 42 years knows Alice
Engstrom Hoyer.
She's been secretary and major-domo in the office of the principal all
those years. Last week she retired without any fanfare or celebration.
She's just going to take it a little easier.
She served superintendent E. P. Rock until his retirement, and for the
past few years, superintendent A. B. Ogland has been her boss.
I know from first hand experience, how very important she has been to the
school students, faculty, and administration. When I was a junior-senior at
HHS during the Great Depression I worked for the NYA (National Youth
Administration) in the high school office. My boss was Alice Engstrom
Hoyer. She had everything under control and if you wanted to know anything
about the school, Alice knew it.
The most used phrase in the school was "Ask Alice - she knows!" She was
always even tempered, generous and fun to work with. And above all she was
dedicated and highly knowledgeable about every facet of school activities.
Such devotion to a job is seldom seem in these days. She has been a great
asset to our school system these many years.
At her request, no formal observance was made of her retirement. She is
much too unassuming for such a demonstration.
However, a group of her friends and colleages feel that such service and
devotion to a job should not go unnoticed.
A committee, composed of A. B. Ogland, W. G. Heiting, Molly Kaiser, Helen
Hughes and Margaret Dorwin, is honoring her by collecting for a gift and a
purse.
HSO, 30Apr1998, p17a
Alice Elvira Christianson, 87, a lifelong Hudson resident, died Sunday, April 26, at the Christian Community Home in Hudson, where she resided since the fall of 1993.
She was born in Hudson Oct. 9, 1910, the daughter of John B. and Anna (Staberg) Engstrom, and attended local schools, graduating from Hudson High School in 1928.
During her high school ears her favorite courses were typing and shorthand. As a junior and senior she had become so proficient that she was sought after as a stenographer by the legal profession. She frequently worked after school, Saturdays and during vacations in the office of Judge Otto W. Anrquist and in the law offices of Hudson attorneys Lynn H. Ashley, Spencer Haven, William B. Webster and Elbert Webster.
After graduating from high school she attended Calhoun Business School in Minneapolis.
In November 1930, she became the secretary of principal/superintendent Edward P. Rock in the Hudson school system. When Rock retired in 1964 she continued as secretary for the new superintendent, A.B. Ogland, until her retirement in 1973.
In 1945 she was honored when the True Blue annual of that year was dedicated to her. The dedication stated, "In appreciation for her never ceasing service to the school and the students, the efficient, capable work done in the office, her eagerness to help individuals, her smile and friendliness to all..."
Her first marriage in 1949 was to Alfred S. Hoyer, who died in 1956. She was later married May 21, 1976, to Emil H. Christianson at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in River Falls. He died in 1979.
Her hobbies included collecting stuffed animals and painting figurines. She had been a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson.
Survivors are a nephew, William R. ("Bill") (Judith) Engstrom of Hudson and two nieces, Jean Carol (Jayson) Tritt of North Hudson and Judith (James Beaudry) of St. Charles, MO.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her two husbands; two brothers, Donald J. Engstrom (1990) and Raymond A. Engstrom (1997); and a sister, Helen L. Keyes (1995).
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at O'Connell's Family Funeral Home in Hudson with the Rev. Dennis Nelson officiating. The organist was Jan Fredrick, who accompanied vocalist Sally Halvorson.
Burial was in Willow River Cemetery in Hudson where nieces and nephews served as casketbearers.
Events
| Birth | 9 Oct 1910 | Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin |  | ||
| Graduation | 1928 | Hudson High School - Hudson, St. Croix, Wis | | ||
| Marriage | 10 Aug 1949 | Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, St.Paul's - Alfred Severine Hoyer | | ||
| Marriage | 21 May 1976 | River Falls, Wisconsin - Emil H. Christianson | | ||
| Death | 26 Apr 1998 | Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin | | ||
| Burial | 29 Apr 1998 | Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, Willow River Cemetery | |
Families
| Spouse | Emil H. Christianson (1906 - 1979) |
| Spouse | Alfred Severine Hoyer (1882 - 1956) |
| Father | John B. Engstrom (1873 - 1960) |
| Mother | Anna Staberg (1886 - 1948) |
| Sibling | Margaret Signora Engstrom (1904 - ) |
| Sibling | Elmer William Engstrom (1905 - ) |
| Sibling | Helen L. Engstrom (1914 - 1995) |
| Sibling | Donald James Engstrom (1918 - 1990) |
| Sibling | Raymond Arthur Engstrom (1920 - 1997) |
Endnotes
1. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 30 Apr 1998, p17a, Obituary, Alice Christianson.
2. Miller, Willis H. and Benoy, Marian Thorson, Hudson High School Alumni Directory Star-Observer Publishing Co., Hudson, Wis., 1973, p21.
3. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 8 Mar 1956, p5, Obituary, Alfred Hoyer.
4. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 8 Mar 1956, p5, Obituary, Alfred Hoyer.
5. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 30 Apr 1998, p17a, Obituary, Alice Christianson.
6. U.S. Social Security Death Index .
7. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 30 Apr 1998, p17a, Obituary, Alice Christianson.
8. Find-A-Grave (www.findagrave.com), Memorial #117615598.