Family and friends mourn the loss of Alice Marie (Velfl) Kortmeyer, 95, who passed away Friday night, April 25, 2014 while visiting in Joshua Tree, California.

Alice was born in Lynch, Nebraska on the 7th day of January, 1919. She married Erwin F Kortmeyer of South Dakota in 1937. Throughout their life together, Alice was by his side working their farms, taking care of their six children and eventually their move to Palm Springs, California in the mid 60's. She and Erwin yearned for their roots and moved back to Dallas, So Dakota in the early 80's. Over many years they would spend summers in Dallas and winters in Southern California.

Gardening was a major part of Alice's life. Tending to her flowers and vegetables brought her never ending joy. She had a special gift for making things grow. Somehow whatever she touched bloomed.

Alice is preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Bessie (Hight) Velfl, her husband Erwin, sons Erwin Kortmeyer and Gerald Kortmeyer, brother Eddie Velfl and sisters Helen Meiers and Margaret Whipple, both from Nebraska.

Alice will be forever remembered by her surviving sons Eugene Kortmeyer of Joshua Tree, Ca, and Craig A Kortmeyer (Janelle) of Cathedral City, Ca, and daughters Marion Kelly of Desert Hot Springs, Ca, and Jolene Fleming (Don) of Cathedral City, Ca. She will also be missed by her 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren, and countless other friends and family whom were blessed to know her.

A private Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, May 3, 2014 in Joshua Tree, Ca. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery, Burke, SD on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 11:00am.