Obituary of Alice Mae MacLennan

Alice Mae MacLennan was born on April 14, of 1927, to Russell Vivian Bonds and Vandella Mae Bonds, in Elizabeth, Colorado. A year after she was born, her family moved to Durango, Colorado. Where she grew up with her Brother Junior, helping her mother and father. They lived in a house with no running water, no electricity, a coal burning stove, and an outhouse. Alice learned several things that she carried with her throughout her life from her mother. Gardening, canning, cooking, and sewing. She also kept up with all of the boys, learning how to drive a tractor, rake hay, drive cattle by the age of 14, and mow hay with her Dad. She went to a one room school, filled with only 10-15 kids. The grades going from kindergarten to eighth grade. Her youth was spent having fun with her family and friends, mainly doing things that we all would now consider as work. From picking berries, (more of them ending up not in the bucket) picking apples, and watching out for Indians from underneath their porch. Alice began 4H at the age of 11. Beginning to involve herself in sewing, cooking, sheep, steers and heifers. Winning one of her first contests in sewing. When she graduated in 1941 from 8th grade, most of the boys went off to war, and she was left to hire on as a ranch hand throughout her high school years. In 1945 she graduated High School, and continued her education at Fort Lewis College. She spent the spring of 1945 harvesting wild asparagus and selling it for 20 Cents a pound. Making enough to pay for her first year. After two years at Fort Lewis, her and a friend loaded up on a train and made their way to Fort Collins to go to A & M University. Where she studied Home Economics and began in the world of judging and became an Assistant Home Agent. Alice met Roderick MacLennan in 1950 at a Camp Tobin, where they were both chaperoning kids. They were both competing for the State Contest with judging teams. Alice’s team ended up beating Rod’s, which didn’t make him very happy. They began dating, or going steady, but soon the spring of 1951, Alice and a friend were making plans to leave Colorado to go to Alaska because the job market. Rod apparently didn’t like that, and decided to take her “off the market”. And her thoughts of moving to Alaska were long gone. They were married on the 23rd of September of 1951. Getting hitched in the very same church her own parents had gotten married in! After the wedding, Rod and Alice headed to Hugo, Colorado where Rod had bought a home for them. Following their marriage, they were blessed with Virginia Louise (May) in 1952, David Roderick in 1954, Jeri Elaine (Cretti) in 1957, Donald Mark in 1959, and James Scot in 1962. Creating an awfully full house! They packed up and moved to Bennett in 1962, taking a house that had three rooms and a path, turning it into a homestead that the family all comes back to each and every year. Alice was the ultimate partner for Rod. Every day working with him handling the office work, climbing windmills, driving truck, tractor, taking care of cows, horses, chickens, and kids. There would not be a day that Rod didn’t count on his wife, and her on him. The whole family became involved with 4H, raising some of the most well-known Gelbvieh Cattle, hosting Champion Bull sales, and creating one of the most prominent Upland Bird hunting Facilities in Eastern Colorado. There was nothing that Alice was not involved in when it came to her family. Some of the best meals that many have had, have come from the hands, and dirty dishrag, of Alice’s kitchen. Cookies that were shipped within a day, chili that will never be recreated, and an inventive spirit that kept people coming back for more. Alice lost her fight with skin cancer on April 16, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband Roderick, her daughter Ginny, her daughter-in-law Brenda, and her Brother Junior. As well as her own parents. Her legacy lives on in her Four children, Dave (Sue), Jeri, Don (Lynn), Scot (Sherry), 13 grandkids, and 18 Great grand kids. As well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and loved ones. Alice was a nurturer of the land. A hard-working spirit. She was the backbone of her family, she always encouraged everyone who met her. She had a seat at the table for any and every one. And strove to make everyone feel welcome. If Alice was to ever give advice, she would say to stay close to your family, have faith in God, work hard, appreciate every moment and be grateful for every little thing. She was an example of a mother, a teacher, a sister, a confidant, and a friend to everyone who met her. The Family will be hosting a day of Celebration on July 18th, 2020 for all the many friends and family of Alice in Bennett, CO at the home place. Alice was never a fan of flowers, and always requested that any gifts, or donations in her name go to your church or someone who is suffering during this chaotic time. Or to St. Jude’s Hospital. ~MacLennan Family