Alice Jacquiline Topness

+A Live Stream of Alice's funeral will be available at the following link. https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY3ODc0NTg2NzI0MDc0OCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Alice J. Topness, age 85, passed away on Friday, March 3 at Whitewater Health Services in St. Charles. Alice was born on January 20, 1938 in Eureka, CA, the daughter of Carl and Genivieve (Welch) Reynolds. Her parents' unique lineage included Scotch and English as well as Mohawk & Lumbee Tribe of NC. Alice attended school until her freshman year before she left to help attend to the daily chores and work that was needed for her family at the time; she was put in charge of stocking wood for the kitchen stove and heater as well as the majority of the cooking and cleaning for her mother and half-sisters. Alice took it upon herself to read quite a lot and educate herself, in spite of leaving school early. Alice lived in the La Crosse area, before she moved to Winona, where she spent the majority of her life painting and doing her artwork. Her later years were spent in St. Charles, where she described her experience as: "the most peaceful life she's had." Alice and her caregivers were very grateful to St. Charles Assisted Living and Whitewater Health Services for their kind and caring attention to her needs. She at one time had  been part owner of the Stockton Flour Mill, along with her then husband, John Cornforth.

Alice found a vast love for painting and art at the young age of 6. Her talent and motivation to produce her own art allowed her to own the Peddler's Wagon store in Winona throughout the 1980's and 90's; she also held consignments in several stores and small shops in Winona including Treasures Under Sugar Loaf, and artwork with the Winona County Historical Society. She also showed her artwork at Rendevous with Art, at Prairie Island Campground.  Alice loved horses, spending much time with Gayle Goetzman Stolpa at Big Valley Ranch in Winona, where she worked, owned and trained thoroughbreds. She was friends  with Mike Fogel and Valerie Shannon at the Money Creek Buffalo Ranch. She was proud of her connection to Cody I and II, of Dances With Wolves movie fame.

Alice will always be remembered by her sister, Emma Elaine Hill; many longtime friends, and caregivers, Aleta Johnson, Lyle Rustad, Mary Singer, Barb and Ray Halvorson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Genivieve Reynolds, and a sister, Nancy Louise Reynolds.

A Celebration of Alice's Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 14 at the Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Tuesday. www.hofffuneral.com.

Please direct memorials to Hoff Funeral Home to help  offset funeral costs. PO Box, 576, St. Charles, MN 55972