Alice Lenore Cornelius

Alice Lenore “Rehm” Cornelius

October 17, 1928-August 15, 2023

A Remembrance Hour for Alice Lenore Rehm Cornelius, age 94, longtime Larimore, ND resident and recently a resident at Touchmark, Bismarck, ND will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at the Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks, ND.

Burial will take place at 12:00 PM on that same date at The Bellevue Cemetery, Larimore , ND.

Alice Lenore Cornelius, always known to friends and family as “Lenore”, was born October, 17, 1928 in Hebron, ND, to her parents, Alvin and Gertrude Rehm. She was raised on the family farm and was one of nine children, Gilbert, Marion, Alice Lenore, Kathleen, Elvira, Willard, Franklin, and Donald and Donalda (the twins).  She was raised and educated in that community. Fate and fortune led her to meeting the “new’ banker in Hebron, a young and dashing Curtis Cornelius who came to town taking his first banking position. The two hit it off immediately and were married in September 1948.

The new couple then embarked on their life journey together moving several times as Curtis advanced his banking career with Lenore’s steadfast support. They next ended up in Towner, ND where their two daughters, Charlotte Cornelius Hill and Karla Cornelius Bellows were born. They were the joy of her life from their first breath. In 1957, Curtis and Lenore moved their family to Warren, MN. In 1968 the journey took them to the bustling community of Larimore, ND where they set their roots down for the remainder of their lives.

Lenore and Curtis remained in the Larimore community after his retirement. During his banking career they had the opportunity to travel to many points in the United States, Europe, and Mexico. But they were equally comfortable in their own company visiting the local casinos. Lenore was known for winning a few dollars at pull tabs.

Lenore was actively engaged in a number of social clubs in Larimore and frequently hosted them into   her home. Curtis and Lenore were well known for their neighborhood yard parties in the summer, forging many lifelong friendships.  She greatly enjoyed her Larimore home which she and Curtis built in 1967 before moving there. She decorated it beautifully, which was a talent in her. She loved being at home with family. For her, it was the best place to be in as opposed to any other place in the world. She loved her yard. She made being a “homebody” a good thing.

As incredibly important her daughters were to her, the birth of her two granddaughters, Dr. Sarah, J. Hill (Boston, MA) and Lauryn Bellows, (Delano, MN) were also a source of absolute joy to her. She followed their growth in life at every juncture, and celebrated their milestone achievements. She was the consummate grandmother who hosted the “Grandmother Summer Camp” and spoiled them rotten every summer!

She embraced life.  She was an expert seamstress and would make elaborate costumes for her grandchildren at Halloween. She also was very proficient at needlepoint. She was a heath fanatic before it was fashionable. Throughout her life she read health magazines and books, structured her diet and exercised her body and mind. She loved challenging granddaughter Sarah on medical health issues and the benefits of vitamin therapy. They had many a battle, as you might imagine. They laughed a lot in those discussions.

When Curtis passed away in 2015, Lenore made a go of staying in Larimore. She moved to the Touchmark Retirement Community in Bismarck and lived there until her death. She became known as the woman with holiday lights on her balcony, and she would sit on that balcony weather permitting during every season. She loved holidays and changing her decorating scheme. She was able to spend many occasions with family throughout that time. She loved to engage in conversation, to know what everyone was doing and what was going on in the world. To the end she was a strong magazine reader and loved the occasional puzzle to keep herself mentally sharp.  

Surrounded by her daughters Lenore passed away, Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at St Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck, ND.

She is survived by her daughters, Charlotte (James) Cornelius Hill Bismarck, ND: Karla (William) Cornelius Bellows St. Michael, MN: her two granddaughters, Dr. Sarah J. Hill Boston, MA: Lauryn Bellows and Joseph Contessa Delano, MN: and her lone remaining sibling, sister, Donalda (Al) Tucker Georgetown, TX.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Bellevue Cemetery Fund, PO Box 148, Larimore, ND, 58251.