Alice Nerine Sunram

  Alice Nerine (Schwartz) Sunram January 25, 1922 – November 19, 2019               Alice Nerine (Schwartz) Sunram, age 97, a long-time Ponsford area resident, peacefully entered the splendor of Heaven on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at the Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, MN.             Alice was born in Green Valley Township of Becker County, Minnesota on January 25, 1922 to William and Margaret (Becker) Schwartz.  She had one sister, Evelyn who was about five years older.  She grew up attending the District 56 Country School in Becker County, MN.  After grade school, Alice attended Park Rapids High School.  She then began normal teacher's training for one year.  This qualified her to teach grade school for a period of two years, after which she needed a six-week summer refresher course in college (Bemidji).  Alice taught country school grades 1-8 for about eight years.  In 1950 she was married to Melvin Sunram, a hard-working farmer on the Ponsford Prairie.  Nine children were born to this union, five girls and four boys.  They are Joan, Lee, Evonne, Robert, Carl, Betsy, Jane, Mark, and Susan.  Alice and Melvin built the family farm without any loans and they lived in the grainery while building their house. Alice worked side by side with Melvin, feeding calves and chickens, washing milkers and milking cows.  She was continually preparing meals for a family of eleven.  Alice’s large vegetable garden gradually turned into a flower garden over the years.  She loved painting landscapes and flowers and she looked at things with an artist’s eye.              Alice was a life-long member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in Ponsford and Snellman.  She was also a member of the Ponsford Prairie Partners, Ladies Aide, and Widow’s Club which were all very special to her.  She enjoyed her time with lady friends.  Alice liked to tell jokes and appreciated a good laugh.  She loved company and felt the need to give you something every time you visited.  The gifts were often paintings, embroidery and handcrafted cards.  She never wanted you to leave hungry.  Alice’s faith grew stronger throughout her life and she would always say “God is good!”  Every time someone left her presence she would say “God bless you!”  In 1980 she was saddened by the death of her husband and then in 2016 she lost her son, Carl in a tragic snowmobile accident.             Alice is survived by her children: Joan Sunram (Dennis Sorensen) of Coon Rapids, Lee Sunram of Corcoran, Evonne Sunram of Minneapolis, Robert Sunram of Ponsford, Betsy Saurdiff (General) of Grygla, Jane Sunram (Mark Harris) of Frazee, Mark Sunram (Jodi) of Osage, and Susan Tostenson (Chuck) of Perham; 17 grandchildren: Shawna Sunram, Ryan (Sara) Sunram, Amanda (Kenny) Olson, Ivan Atkinson, Cara Sunram, Sadie Saurdiff, Hannah (Kyle) Erickson, Jake Saurdiff, Jack Harris, Andy Harris, Emma Harris, Darren (Jenna) Sunram, Amber Sunram, Jared Sunram, Riley Tostenson, Alex (Lisa) Tostenson and Max Tostenson;  and 7 great-grandchildren:  Ryland, Weston, Kennedy, Henry, Leonard, Owen, Tucker and two boys on the way.             Alice is preceded in death by her husband, Melvin on Jan. 13, 1980; her son, Carl on Feb. 9, 2016 who is survived by his wife, Kay who still lives on their farm; and her sister, Evelyn (Albert) Fuller, San Diego, CA         To leave online condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com