Alvera M. Boniek

Alvera Mae (Radtke) Boniek was born August 25, 1935 in rural Brookfield Township Renville County Minnesota, to William and Ethel (Laabs) Radtke. She passed to the waiting arms of Jesus on January 9, 2026, after a short illness.

Alvera attended country grade school a quarter mile from the Radtke Farm. She didn’t care much for school work but loved handwriting—“from doodling”, And recess. She was the only girl in her cohort so she became adept at athletic games. She graduated from Hutchinson, MN High School with the class of 1953.

Alvera worked for “Ma Bell” As a telephone operator in Willmar and Litchfield, MN. She and her girlfriends frequented the dance halls in Green Lake, Spicer, Darwin and Litchfield. At one of those dances, she met Royal Boniek of Hawick Minnesota. They married in 1958. The Bonieks farmed, milked cows and raised sheep, pigs and chickens on farms near Hawick, Murdock and Montevideo, Minnesota. In 1972 they moved to Royal‘s birth area near Ellendale, North Dakota where they built a home 7 miles east of town.

Alvera was Royals farm hand and a homemaker. She worked as “the bath aide“ at what is now the Benedictine Care Center in Ellendale for over 30 years. She was also an “Avon lady“ for many years. Alvera enjoyed visiting, “going for coffee“, flowers, playing pinochle, travel and cruises. She and Royal traveled all over the United States and internationally to Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, Russia, and the Caribbean. Alvera’s faith was very important to her— She was an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Hecla SD.

Alvera was known for her coffee—“not so tick!”, Her strawberry jam, Her cherry cheesecake and “putting butter and sugar on everything“. She was also well known by her family and friends for her many “sayings“: “Oh pitty”, “doggone it”, “you behave”, “there you be ralphie”, “you kids”— some in German: “wunderbar” (wonderful), “aber dock ja” (but yes) and “was ist los” (what is going on) and many others.

Alvera is survived by her daughters Nancy (Dave) Carlson of Tioga, ND and Debra Payne of Minnesota Lake, MN, and a son, Perry (Sue) Boniek of Ellendale. Ten grandchildren: Christopher (Nicole) Carlson, Shelby (Kasey) Knox, Dianna (Kyle) Heinze, Doris (David) Kitzing, Daniel, David and Deszirae Payne, April (Brady) Weight, Lindsey Boniek and Courtney (Eric) Wonchoba. Ten great grandchildren. A brother Harvey (Gloria) Radtke, sisters-in-law Gloria Radtke, Madaline Radtke, Sharon Boniek and Renata Hartley. Brother-in-law Leo Boniek and many dear friends and extended family.

Alvera was proceeded in death by her parents, husband Royal and son Mark, brothers Ralph and Willard, sisters Irene Floy and Lorraine Getz And brothers-in-law Bob Floy, Don Getz, Elmer Boniek and Bernard Hartley.

Visitation will 10am to 12pm Tuesday, January 13 at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale, ND. The funeral service is 2pm Tuesday, January 13 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hecla, SD with Pastor Tim Daub officiating. Alvera’s service will be live streamed here on her obituary page. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.

To watch the service live: keep moving down this page and watch for a black box. At time of the service, click the red area to start the live stream. Please note the service is also recorded and saved here for viewing at a later time.