by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Some members of Roman W. Bovy’s family think he deserves to be remembered for his sacrifice to our country. Bovy was killed in France during World War II when he was 23 years old.
About 24 family members recently gathered for lunch at the American Legion Post 328 in St. Joseph and the St. Joseph Historical Society to view his military memorabilia.
Three brothers, Edward Bovy, 84, and his wife Ellie; Alvin Bovy, 82, and his wife Bernie; Urban Bovy, 92; sister Martha Stock, 88; sister-in-law Arlis Bovy; many of their children; deceased sister Viola Loesch’s children and others visited St. Joseph for the lunch, which included chicken dumpling soup, whole wheat sandwiches, dessert and more.
Lunch was prepared by club manager Patti Torborg and Sherry Bullivant; desserts were provided by Cheryl and Everette Bovy; and Shirley Traeger photographed events of the day.
“This man gave his life for our country,” said sister-in-law Arlis of Chanhassen. “He deserves to be remembered.”
Roman grew up on a farm north of St. Joseph. He was the third of 10 children born to Ida and Joseph Bovy.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army and was killed in France Aug. 11, 1944.
Stock said it was hard when Roman was drafted, because her father did not agree with sending their young boys overseas to fight the war.
She said Roman had been shot in his left shoulder before he was killed.
“They patched him up and put him right back on the front lines,” she said.
Part of Roman’s regiment was killed when a land mine exploded.
Roman was originally buried in northern France. When American veterans’ remains were sent home to their families, about 35 years ago, he was transferred to Fort Snelling. Roman is now buried in the front of the Fort Snelling cemetery with other WWII veterans.
Arlis was married to Roman’s brother, Leo Bovy. She never met or knew Roman because she met Leo after Roman had been killed, but she has been told by several people that Roman was an exceptionally nice person.
Leo was also drafted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict. They were married 22 years, and he is now also buried at Fort Snelling.
As a travel tour escort, Arlis traveled to Europe 45 times. During one of those trips to Normandy Beach and other World War II historic places, she started thinking about the sacrifice Roman had made for his country and how many younger people probably don’t understand that sacrifice.
“We owe these veterans so much,” Arlis said.
“He was such a good-looking guy,” Stock said. “He was the best looking one of the family.”
Stock has lived in Sartell for 25 years and has volunteered at the St. Cloud Hospital for 17 years.
Edward had kept and gathered together most of Roman’s military memorabilia. He said family members thought it would be a good idea to have the gathering to honor Roman.
Edward was 5 when his brother was killed, but he remembers they would often tease each other and got along well. Edward has lived in the Minneapolis area more than 60 years and has traveled throughout Europe and the United States.
Urban was 18 when Roman left and said his death made it much harder. He has lived in the St. Cloud area most of his life.
Alvin was 11 when Roman was killed and remembers his family having Roman’s wake at the house without a casket. Alvin has lived in St. Joseph all of his life.
Roman and his fiancée, Adeline Keller, had planned to get married after he returned home. Both sets of parents had suggested they should wait until Roman had finished serving his time in the military.
Arlis said Keller introduced herself to her at a wake in Sartell several years ago. Keller thanked Arlis for decorating Roman’s grave and said she (Keller) remained single for 12 years after Romans’s death, before she married.
For Roman’s sacrifice to his country, the family received a certificate of service, a letter signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a bronze star and a purple heart. All of those items, along with photos of Roman in his uniform, a book about his regiment and a Bovy family history were donated to the St. Joseph Historical Society.
The older generation of Roman’s family did not want his military memorabilia to get misplaced or lost, and the younger generation didn’t really know what to do with the items since many of them had never known Roman.
After discussion, Arlis contacted the American Legion in St. Joseph about donating the military memorabilia to the club. The information was referred to Legionnaire Fran Court who discussed it with the executive board.
The board said they felt the St. Joseph Historical Society would be a good place to preserve Roman’s military memorabilia, and so Court contacted Ellie Studer and Marlin Eich from the historical society.
“They were enthusiastic about getting the material,” Court said.
Court scheduled a meeting June 16 at the American Legion to meet with Torborg, Studer, Eich, Edward and Ellie, Al and Bernie, and Arlis.
The memorabilia was given to the historical society at that meeting.
“After the (June) meeting, the Bovys toured the historical building and were very happy with their decision to turn the documents over to the history group,” Court said.
The Bovys wanted other family members to be able to view the military displays at the historical society and asked Torborg if she could organize a lunch for them if they scheduled a date and came as a group. Because it’s the anniversary of Roman’s death, they planned the lunch for Aug. 11.
Court said it was interesting to meet the family.
“They are really congenial people,” he said.
“I’m happy the family got together to do this,” Studer said. “I feel happy for them. A lot of families don’t get together.”
After viewing the memorabilia, other area veterans and friends joined some of the Bovy family at the American Legion and spent several hours sharing stories.
The lunch was served by Legionnaire Commander Chuck Kern, historian Dave Keller and the society’s finance officer Court.
Kern said it’s great the family chose to honor Roman, adding it’s important to talk to veterans who served in wars such as World War II, the Korean Conflict and others so people can hear their stories.
The American Legion in St. Joseph was started more than 95 years ago.
The surviving siblings of Roman W. Bovy sit and visit at the St. Joseph Historical Society, while other family members view Bovy’s military memorabilia. Pictured (left to right) are brother Edward Bovy, 84; sister Martha (Bovy) Stock, 88; brother Alvin Bovy, 82; brother Urban Bovy, 92; and Urban’s son Everette Bovy.
Military items donated by the Roman W. Bovy family to the St. Joseph Historical Society include a certificate of service, letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, bronze star, purple heart, photos of Bovy in his uniform, book about his regiment and a Bovy family history.
Roman W. Bovy and his fiancée, Adeline Keller, are pictured in their uniforms beside a notice of Bovy’s death.
Military items donated by the Roman W. Bovy family to the St. Joseph Historical Society include a certificate of service, letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, bronze star, purple heart, photos of Bovy in his uniform, book about his regiment and a Bovy family history.
About 24 members of the Roman W. Bovy family gather Aug. 11 at the American Legion in St. Joseph to remember his death during World War II. Bovy, 23, was killed in northern France in 1944. The family recently donated his military memorabilia to the St. Joseph Historical Society.
Military items donated by the Roman W. Bovy family to the St. Joseph Historical Society include a certificate of service, letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, bronze star, purple heart, photos of Bovy in his uniform, book about his regiment and a Bovy family history.
Military items donated by the Roman W. Bovy family to the St. Joseph Historical Society include a certificate of service, letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, bronze star, purple heart, photos of Bovy in his uniform, book about his regiment and a Bovy family history.
