Teresa Mary Boswell

Teresa Mary (Eblen) Boswell was born to Glen John and Maude Nell (Starlin) Eblen on August 9, 1925 at her parent’s home six miles south of Massena. She passed away at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs on November 30, 2014.
Teresa was the youngest of three children. She and her brothers grew up on the Eblen family farm near Massena. She went to country school a mile south of their home. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a nurse. Along with her father, she loved to ride horses.
She attended and graduated from Corning High School in the class of 1942. During high school she met her future husband and the love of her life, Bill Boswell. In Teresa’s words: “The first time I saw Bill Boswell was when he stepped on the school bus on my first day of high school. Although we didn’t date for more than two years later, I think it was love at first sight for us both.”
Bill and Teresa were married December 22, 1943 at St Patrick Catholic Church, Audubon, Ia. They lived in a small house near the Dale and Ethel Calkins farm south of Cumberland. Bill worked for Dale until he was drafted into the army in December of 1944. During Bill’s time in the military Teresa and their daughter Connie lived with Teresa’s parents.
When Bill returned from the service in 1946 they moved to the Boswell family farm north of Corning. Together, they spent the following 40 years farming and raising their family.
Teresa always raised a large vegetable garden and spent many hours canning and freezing produce for her large family. She also raised a flock of chickens that provided both eggs and meat.
Teresa enjoyed sewing. She made many of her children’s clothes. In later years she designed and sewed many prom, wedding and bridesmaid dresses for her daughters and granddaughters. She crocheted and quilted cozy blankets and baby quilts for grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also embroidered beautiful pillow case sets for each of her grandchildren.
Teresa’s family was her pride and joy. In later years the first thing she told people when meeting them for the first time was about her large, wonderful family. She in turn was very much loved by her family. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren looked forward to stopping for one of her “world famous” cinnamon rolls. A child or grandchild who needed a willing ear to listen to a problem or some exciting news in their life, always found one in Grandma who was ready to listen and either sympathize or celebrate with them depending on the situation.
Teresa’s faith was of great importance to her and she drew on that faith to guide her throughout her life. She was a devout Catholic and a member of St Timothy Catholic Church south of Cumberland. She was a member of the Altar Society and helped with many wedding showers and receptions, funeral dinners, fund raisers and other church functions.
Bill and Teresa retired from farming in 1987 and moved to their new home in Corning.
Bill passed away in August of 1989. Teresa continued to reside in their home in Corning. She joined and was an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and Altar Society. She sang in the church choir for several years. She served as a volunteer at the Dollar Shop and the Meals on Wheels program. She also provided support for many friends and neighbors in the community.
Teresa was preceded in death by her husband Bill Boswell, her parents, her brother, Dale Eblen, brother and sister-in-law Dudley and Vivian Eblen, Bill’s parents Fred and Eleanor Boswell, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dalton and Lillie Boswell and her nephew, Renny Boswell.
Teresa is survived by her 12 children: Connie Pettinger (Bernard), Dale Boswell (Janet), John Boswell (Shirley), Tom Boswell (special friend, Karen McClelland), Katie Brennan (John), Jenny Sinning (David), Barbara Wimmer (Bob), Patty Mack (Tony), Fred Boswell (Bonnie), Glen Boswell (Rhonda), Teresa Cullen (Jeff), Julie Boswell, 56 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.