Nina Allen

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 14, 2009

Nina Allen, 101
Nina Allen, 101, of Perham, Minn. died on Aug. 12, 2009, in the Perham Memorial Hospital.
Nina Irene White was born on June 8, 1908, in Butler County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Ed and Mae (Van Ripper) White. She moved to the New York Mills and Perham area at the age of 7. She attended the Hill Top School. Nina had four siblings. Nina was united in marriage to Ernest Eugene Allen Sr. on April 28, 1928 in Walker, Miin. They moved to Austin in 1929. Ernest died on Feb. 17, 1986. She remained in Austin until 1996 and then returned to the Perham area. In September of 2006, Nina moved to the home of Dan and Franci Gleason.
She lost her first son at the age of two weeks and not only raised four of her own children, she also raised her little sister and took care of her invalid mother until she passed away in 1959, which led to her nursing career. She was a mother and a grandmother to anyone that needed one.
Nina enjoyed writing poetry, singing, playing the violin, concertina, piano and harmonica. Her hobbies included vegetable and flower gardening, reading and doing various artwork and crafts. Her greatest pleasure was her family. She loved to tell stories of her heritage and all the things she had experienced in her lifetime. She always ensured that everyone in her presence, especially her grandchildren, were well entertained with stories and songs.
Nina is survived by a son, Robert (Sue Johnson), Blooming Prairie, Minn.; a daughter, Marlene (Buddy) Gleason, Perham, Minn.; 14 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and 40 great-great-grandchildren.
Nina was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; husband; two sons, Harold and Ernest Jr.; daughter, Darlene Allen Fort; two grandchildren, Irene Fort Katula and Kenneth Fort Jr. and three great-grandchildren, Maria Fort, Derrick Laack and Alexander Laack.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the United Methodist Church in Perham. Visitation will be held on Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Burial will take place on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009 at 2 pm, in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Austin. Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, is in charge of arrangements. Online tributes may be posted at www.schoenebergerfuneralhome.com.