Anna Irene Bok

Anna Irene “Ann” Bok, age 99, of Cromwell, MN, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Villa Court Senior Living in Cromwell, MN.

Ann was born on August 28, 1926 to Jacob & Jontina (Hoekman) Lammers in Platte, South Dakota at her maternal grandmother’s home. She grew up on the edge of town with her younger siblings Fredrick, Marion, Jacob Jr and Rita Mae.

Life was not easy during the depression and many times Ann & her siblings went to bed hungry. When Ann was about 7, she and her brothers would walk to a lake 3 miles from home. This was when South Dakota had 100-110 degree days. In order to walk that far in the heat, they put wet towels over their heads, walk a mile and stop at a farm where they could get a drink & wet their towels again and walk 2 more miles to the lake to fish. They caught many, many bullhead fish, sometimes a hundred between the three of them. They would wet their towels and walk 3 miles home. These fish were their food for as long as they lasted. Then, they would go fishing again to have more food.

Ann loved school! She walked 2 miles to school and had to cross railroad tracks. She walked by herself from first grade on. Ann was a straight A student for the entire time she was in school. One of her greatest loves in school was taking clarinet lessons which she began in 6th grade. She worked her way up to 2nd clarinet in the 10th grade. She performed with the marching band and in contests throughout South Dakota. Ann received many first place ribbons in band.

When Ann finished  her sophomore year, her parents moved to a farm outside of Platte. It was too far to walk and her parents could not afford to board her in Platte so she had to quit school. The local country school about a mile from the farm only went through 8th grade. Ann then worked for local farmers in the fields, gardening, cleaning houses and babysitting. If she was lucky she made 50 cents in a couple days. When she was 14 she met a friend of her cousin named Jake Bok. They dated for four years and enjoyed roller skating, movies and dancing.  When Ann was 18 and Jake was 21 they were married on November 28, 1943. In the beginning, they lived with Jake’s parents on their farm. Because Jake’s father was not in good health, Jake did most of the farming. Ann worked in the house, barn & did the gardening and helped with canning. Since Jake’s mother was wheelchair bound Ann helped take care of her, too. They had an opportunity to rent a farm and moved to their own farm. They raised corn, wheat, had milk cows, pigs & chickens. With Jake and Ann’s hard work the farm started doing well. While they lived on that farm, they had three children. Joan, Andy & Bob. Both Andy & Bob were born with asthma and because of this the doctor told them to save the boys lives they had to move to a different climate. Jake’s sister lived in northern Minnesota so he went there to see if he could find a farm. He found a 160 acre farm in Elmer township located 5 miles from Meadowlands, Minnesota. The farm was run down and needed a lot of work but the soil was excellent. Jake and Ann worked very hard to make the farm prosperous. Jake often said, he could never have made it without Ann’s help. Ann worked as hard as Jake. Jake and Ann had another child after moving to Minnesota, Cheryl. At this time they were raising beef cattle and Jake worked in the mines as a welder in Hibbing, Minnesota. When Jake’s knees got so bad he couldn’t continue that work he purchased an 18 wheeler and hauled grain from the Dakotas to the port in Duluth. During this time Ann had to take care of Bob and Cheryl, the homestead and the beef cattle. Also, Ann started selling Sarah Coventry jewelry at home show parties. She did very well at these parties and won many honors, prizes and accolades. Throughout Ann’s life she was active in church. She taught Sunday School, was active in ladies aid and played her clarinet for church services. Ann was known for her intelligence, caring nature, willingness to help, her competitiveness and how proud she was of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grand child. Jake and Ann finally retired from farming and bought a motorhome. They went camping, fishing and enjoyed many holidays with their children, grand children, great grandchildren and friends. They lived on the farm in Meadowlands from April 1951 to December 2016. They sold the farm and moved to Villa Vista in Cromwell where they enjoyed their apartment, the people, staff and the entertainment.

She was preceded in death by; her parents, siblings, son Andrew Bok, daughter Cheryl Bok, daughter-in-law Ernestine Bok, and son-in-law, Gary L. Nelson, Sr. and daughter-in-law Judy Bok.

Ann is survived by her children, Joan Nelson, Robert (Joanne) Bok, grandchildren Curtis (Tami) Bok, Candace (Victor Etlick) Bok, Gary (Dawn Pieti) Nelson, Jr., Beverly (Micheal) Culver, Jenny (Marty) Galan, Cherrie (Toby) Mc Gowan, 10 great grandchildren and one great, great grandson.

Ann’s love and legacy live on.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to the staff and residents for Villa Court for her excellent care in her time there and to Saint Croix Hospice for their care and compassion while she was attended by them.

Celebration of Life for Ann will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 12:00 pm with a time for visitation 1 hour before, at New Life Church in Floodwood, MN.  Inurnment will take place later in the summer.