Alice Boulton
Marriages
John Robert Boulton - March 15, 1939
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B - August 11, 2011
Alice D. Boulton, of Silt, Colorado died August 8, 2011 in Rifle,
Colorado.
Alice DeRotha (Sonntag) Boulton was born July 8, 1925, in a sod
house on the prairie, near Wiley, Colorado, where her parents
Marion Phillip and Josephine (Pettyjohn) Sonntag were involved in
dry land farming and the breeding of horses.
While Alice was still a young girl, the small family first moved
briefly to the Grand Junction area, later moving to Dotsero, Colorado,
where her father began working for the railroad.
Alice didn't finish high school, as on March 15,1939, at the age of
14, she married John Robert Boulton. She was half his age, and although
no one thought it would last, they were married for 65 years,
until John's passing in 2004.
The Boultons would wait several years to have their first child. At
the age of 17, Alice gave birth to a daughter, Mary Jane. Their son,
John Robert Jr. followed two years later. In turn, these children
would provide them with five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren,
in whom the couple found much love and great joy.
When CMC was first founded in the valley, Alice was quick to enroll
in a bookkeeping course, enabling her to keep the accounts for
R.E. Boulton and Sons Ranch. She later went on to obtain her GED,
and, at the age of 60, her AA Degree. This would remain one of
Alice's proudest achievements.
After the children were grown, Alice began a small ceramics shop
business which she ran for many years. Later, upon John's retirement,
he and Alice became very involved in the creation of the Silt
Historical Park, which they continued to enjoy and nurture for many
years, much as one would a child.
Alice was a member of the Ladies of the Moose, and an avid community
volunteer. She assisted Mary Jane's girl scout troop for six
years and also the 4-H for several years. She devoted countless
hours of her time, not only to Silt's Historical Park, but also to the
E.D. Moore Care Center.
Alice always enjoyed handwork and crafts of many kinds. Along
with ceramics, she liked to knit, crochet, and sew. Her last big
project was a beautiful paper pieced quilt. She also enjoyed country
western music, and while Alice had many diverse hobbies and talents,
reading remained her lifelong, perhaps favorite, pastime of all.
Survivors include daughter, Mary Jane (Dene) Hangs; son, John R.
Jr. (Nancy) Boulton; her grandchildren; great-grandchildren; extended
family, and many friends. Alice was preceded in death by her
husband; parents; brother, Phillip Sonntag, and an infant brother.
Graveside services will be held at Rosehill Cemetery in Rifle,
Colorado, Saturday August 13, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. A memorial luncheon
for family and friends will follow at the Rifle Senior Center,
100 Ute, Rifle.
In lieu of flowers, it is kindly requested that any memorial contributions
be made to the Silt Historical Park, Box 401, Silt, Colorado
81652.
