Alice Victoria Anderson Van Wert Murray

Alice Victoria Anderson Van Wert Murray was born November 27, 1912, the youngest of six children, to Erick and Axa Natalie (Carlson) Anderson on the family farm near Worthington, Minnesota. She died June 7, 2014. Alice graduated from Worthington High School and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State College in 1934. She taught Home Economics and coached Girls' Basketball for one year before marrying J.S. "Pat" Van Wert in June 1935. When they returned to the family farm in 1937, Alice worked alongside Pat to develop Farmers Hybrid Seed Corn and Farms Hybrid Hog Companies. Following Pat's untimely death in 1954, Alice continued serving her family, church and community in many ways. Alice served as Iowa Farm Bureau Women Chairman, on the Iowa State Farm Bureau Board and Board of Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. She was Iowa Mother of the Year in 1965 and became a leader in Country Women of the World. Her continued involvement and countless recognitions lead her to be inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1975, Alice married Dr. William G. Murray, professor emeritus of Iowa State University, and moved to Ames, Iowa. Together they worked to build the Living History Farms Museum in Urbandale, Iowa, that he had founded in 1968. Nationally, she served on the Postal Advisory Council, the National Advisory Council to set standards for farm safety through OSHA, National Safety Council Board of Directors, American Farm Bureau Committees and National 4-H Committees. Alice was a member of Iowa State University Home Economics Dean's Advisory Board, Order of the Knoll, Lifetime Member of the Board of Governors of the ISU Foundation, Lifetime Member of the ISU Alumni Association and on the Alumni Executive Committee and Alumni Achievement Board and a 50 year member of P.E.O. Alice is survived by her children: Jay (Sally Haydon), David (Sally Blanchard), Sonnie Mount and Trish Patten; grandchildren: Jay II (Brenda ) Van Wert, Karen Van Wert (James Fuchs), Mary Beth (Ron) Zelle; Cathie Van Wert (Tim Menard) and Patrick Van Wert (Carrie Hill); Hillary (Bill) Fiveash and Kim Mount (Brian Grabiner); Craig (Julie)Patten, Geoff Patten (Hanny Andereas) . Murray step-children: David (Judy Sayles), Jean (Tom) Sutherland, John (Judy Terlizzi) and their children: Chris, Bruce and James Murray; Ann and Kit Sutherland, Joan Sears; David, Peter and Allison Murray; as well as 18 great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family. Please, no flowers memorial may be directed to ISU Foundation, 4-H Foundation or Living History Farms.

Tributes

Alice Victoria Anderson Van Wert Murray

November 27, 1912 - June 7, 2014