Esther Generviere Boen

Esther Generviere Boen, 97, of Georgetown, left her earthly home to join her family in their heavenly home at 1:00pm, Monday, February 8, 2021. She had been a resident of Pleasant Meadows Senior Living, Chrisman, IL, since March 2018. She was born on May 12, 1923 on the family farm in Conkeytown, IL, to James Henry and Margaret Mae {Woodard} Minser. Esther was a woman of faith. A prayer warrior. God and her Jesus was very important to her. As a child, she was a member of Muncie Baptist Church. As an adult living in Georgetown, she attended Georgetown Friends. Later, she was a long-time member of Elwood Friends east of Georgetown. At Elwood, she taught Sunday School and served on several committees and boards. She read and studied the Bible and was known to write note cards to herself and others of her thoughts and scriptures and in spiral notebooks as well. She was raised in a home above the covered bridge in the small community of Conkeytown south of Muncie, IL. This area was dear to her heart and she spoke often of it. In her later years, she would paint several pictures of the bridge and the area. On Sunday July 28, 1946, she married Russell Albert Boen at the Methodist Church in Covington, IN. She and Russ lived in Georgetown where Russ helped his dad on the dairy farm east of town and delivered milk to families in the community and Esther continued teaching. In 1969, she and Russ moved to the family farm called Riverdale Farm where she enjoyed the peacefulness and beauty of the farm watching the cows and calves and taking walks down the farm lane into the woods. She liked to draw and paint. Paintings and drawings of children would decorate her classroom walls. Paintings of landscapes, nature, deer, flowers, portraits, and other subjects she shared with family and friends who have enjoyed them. At one time, she was a member of the Art League and took an oil painting class from a Chrisman art teacher who was in her first-grade class. For many years, she volunteered at the Georgetown Fair and in the late 80s and early 90s she volunteered for hospice. She really enjoyed her teaching career. Her motto was and she often said, 'that every child has a gift or talent and all I had to do was to discover or find the special fit and try to develop it." She taught 32 and half years for Georgetown School District retiring in 1984. She then substituted a couple years after retirement. She was known to be a mentor to several beginning teachers. Her first teaching job was at the Sugar Grove School between Catlin and Fithian where she was the only teacher with 36 students from all 8 grades. Her second job was Jordan School north of Fairmount. Her third teaching position was Elwood School east of Georgetown. Next was Georgetown Junior High School teaching math and physical education before leaving to raise her children. After five years, she went back to teaching. Her first two years was a private kindergarten held in the basement of the Georgetown Methodist Church, which her daughter, Becky, was in her first class. She also taught 3rd grade for four years at Indianola, kindergarten at Ridge Farm, 1st grade at Frazier School for nine years, and 3rd grade at Pinecrest School. For years she would have former students tell her she was their favorite teacher. A highlight of her teaching career was in 1978 when she was selected by the State Board of Education and the Illinois Office of Education to receive "Those Who Excel" certificate. Esther was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, Harry Dick Clarkson, her husband, Russ, on March 28, 1995 from cancer; her sons, Eric Rick James Boen (02/23/1952-10/29/1959 polio) and David Mark Boen (03/31/1949-10/31/1969 electrocuted); her daughter, Rebecca Becky Lynn Blue (06/20/1950-05/23/2014 cancer); and her siblings and their spouses, Edith (Pat) Wingegardner, Marion (Betty) Minser, & infant brother, James Gilbert Minser. Esther is survived by her son-in-law, John Blue of Georgetown; her step-grandchildren, who she loved and considered her own, Kevin (Melissa) Blue of Kaysville, UT, and Crista (Dean) White of Champaign, IL; her step great grandchildren, Mallory, Courtney, George, Amelia Blue of Kaysville and Matthew Blue of Champaign, who she loved and enjoyed being part of his young life in Georgetown, taking part in his education, walks to the woods, letting him steer her car down the farm lane, going to Tiltons Burger King and having him order her meal and many other activities. She is also survived by Russs sister, Jennie Lewis of Georgetown; nieces & nephews, Carol (Bob-deceased) Shoop of Westfield, IN, Judy (Ken) Steele of Kingman, IN, Janet Gayle of Kingman, IN, Steve (Dawn) Winegardner of Alvin, IL, Ann (Glen) Smith of Durkam, NC, Jane (Jerry) Harper of Muncie, Cindy (Joe) Katavich of Georgetown, Jeff (Barb) Lewis of Catlin, Mike (Carrie) Lewis of Ecuador; and many great & great-great nieces & nephews, along with a special friend, Barb Jones, a former Pinecrest teacher of Pana, IL. God is there to help us through our troubles. He does not promise to always take problems away, but promises to be with us and see us through. He carries us when we no longer have the strength to go on. A celebration of Esthers life will be held 11:00am, Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Georgetown, Illinois 200 E West St. Georgetown, Illinois 61846 with Pastor Gary Hendrick officiating. Visitation will be 4:00pm to 6:00pm, Monday, February 15, 2021, at the funeral home with addition visitation time on Tuesday prior to her service from 9:00am to 11:00am at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest in Georgetown Cemetery, next to her husband and two sons. Memorial donations may be given in her name to Elwood Friends Meeting, PO Box 229, Georgetown, IL, or Georgetown Fair, PO Box 204, Georgetown, IL or Georgetown Historical Society, PO Box 14, Georgetown, IL 61846. Please join Esthers family in sharing memories and photos on her Tribute Wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Services Visitation Monday February 15, 2021 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Sunset's Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel 200 E. West Street Georgetown, , IL 61846 Visitation Tuesday February 16, 2021 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Sunset's Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel 200 E. West Street Georgetown, , IL 61846 Funeral Service Tuesday February 16, 2021 11:00 AM Sunset's Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel 200 E. West Street Georgetown, , IL 61846