Harlow James Boyd

Memorial Service will be held on June 19, 2014 at the First Congregational Church in Alexandria, Minnesota at 2 p.m. with visitation at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be at Kinkead Cemetery in Alexandria, MN. H. James Boyd was born on January 17, 1921 at Alexandria, Minnesota. He is the son of Dr. Leon and Lytta Raiter Boyd. Jim attended elementary and high school in Alexandria, MN and attended the University of Minnesota graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Education was always an important part of his life. He served on the Alexandria School Board for many years. Jim valued everyone having the opportunity for higher education and was part of the school board that began the process for the formation of the Alexandria Technical School. In 1944 Jim married Magel Knutson. They were married 67 years before Magel died in 2011. They were blessed with three children: Mary, Lee, and Anne. Jim was manager of the Alexandria Telephone company for nearly 30 years. He also served as state president of the Minnesota Independent Telephone Association. As a lifetime member of First Congregational Church in Alexandria, he served in many leadership positions, including church moderator. For many years he managed Pilgrim Point Bible Camp on Lake Ida near Alexandria. Jim served on the Kinkead Cemetery Board for fifty years. He loved his family and the times everyone could be together. His family especially enjoyed his wisdom shared in his favorite quotes: "It's not a problem unless you make it a problem ". Jim spent many hours writing: short stories, novels, family history. He shared his writing with his family and friends. His beginning quote in his last book was "I don't pretend to be a great writer, just a good story teller." He loved to tell stories about earlier days in Alexandria. His storytelling style gave him a captive audience. Jim also loved to read, keeping up on the news, changing times and novels. Traveling was at the top of Jim's favorite times. He and Magel traveled to California every year since 1972. They visited all fifty states and many European countries. They were barely back from one trip when he was dreaming and planning the next trip. He returned from his final trip to California April 4, 2014. Jim Boyd died May 5, 2014 at Hennepin County Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. He was preceded in death by his wife, Magel, his parents Lytta and Leon Boyd, and his two brothers Leon and John, and his son-in-law, Leon Hovland. Jim is survived by his children Mary Hovland, Lee Boyd, and Anne and her husband Sherman Bartz. He is blessed with 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren: Dan (Kristine) Hovland and their children Lauren and Cameron; Lyle (Jill) Hovland and their children Bailey, Tate, and Cayle; Scott ( Jennifer) and their children Avery and Alec; Jennifer (Christopher Doyle) and Chris Boyd. May God bless the memory of Jim Boyd. We thank God for what he has done through the life of Jim Boyd. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home