Gary Boyum

Gary Corven Boyum passed away on September 24th, 2026 at Chosen Valley Care Center after a lengthy battle of dementia. Gary was born on January 9th, 1938 to Verna and Corven Boyum in Rochester Minnesota. He graduated from Stewartville High School in 1956, attended Rochester Junior College and later grocery store management training in Michigan. He returned to work in the family grocery business in Stewartville - Erdman’s Supermarket. The store later became Boyum Foods and finally Boyum’s Economart. His grocery career and service to the Stewartville community exceeded 60 years.

Gary met and later married the love of his life, Elenor “Kay” Boyum, on June 26, 1960. They had three children: Kirk, Jill and Eric. Gary was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and served on several Stewartville community boards and organizations. He cared deeply about nature, regional and national parks, and being in these settings alongside his family and close friends. He loved spending time at his lake home in Shell Lake Wisconsin with his cousin across the street. He also loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren, attending church and bible studies, and going to local and state fairs. He enjoyed eating lutefisk and pie, all kinds of tractors, snowmobiling, horses, dogs that cuddle, watching football, and visiting hardware stores so he would have the right tools or gadgets on hand to fix anything even if he himself didn’t own it. In his latter years he enjoyed visits from family and friends and feeling the sun on his skin.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Kay, and twin grandsons Bradley and Andrew Boyum. He is survived by his three children, Kirk (Ginny) Boyum of Rochester, Jill (Doug) Hildebrandt of Florida, and Eric (Sonda) Boyum of Idaho; seven grandchildren, four great-children, and his sister Ardis (Bob) Jenkins of Rochester.

A memorial service will be held at St John’s Lutheran Church, 111 2nd Avenue NE, Stewartville Minnesota 55976 on November 14, 2026. Visitation starts at 10am and the service at 11am. A private family burial of both Gary and Kay will occur at a later date.

As an alternative to flowers or memorials please consider a donation in Gary’s honor to The Chosen Valley Care Center Van Fund, 1102 Liberty St SE, Chatfield Minnesota 55923 or Season’s Hospice, 1696 Greenview Drive SW, Rochester MN 55902.

Hoff Funeral Home Chatfield is assisting the family.