Dolores Margaret Boysen<br/>June 16, 1920 - February 23, 2015

Dolores Parry Boysen, 94, a 60 years long resident of Burbank, CA passed away on February 23, 2015 in Burbank, California.

The Rosary and Visitation were held Thursday, February 26th at 7 PM at St. Finbar Catholic Church in Burbank.

The Funeral was held at 11 AM, Friday, February 27th at St. Finbar. The Burial followed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills.

Dolores was born in Canistota, S.D. to Margaret and Charles Parry on June 16, 1920. She started first grade a year early in a one room school which she attended through sixth grade and then transferred to the Whittier School in Sioux Falls, SD graduating the eighth grade as Valedictorian. Four years later she finished Washington High School at 16 as Salutatorian. Throughout her life she was an eager, accomplished student of literature, language (German) and art as well as a bright, compassionate conversationalist and friend to many.

Dolores married Cyril J. Boysen on December 2, 1938 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux Falls. Over the next 22 years, the family grew to thirteen children, six girls and seven boys. In 1954 Cyril was transferred to Los Angeles and the family, then with ten children, moved to Burbank, CA. All thirteen children graduated from John Burroughs High School. They distinguished themselves as loving family members, constructive citizens and good workers in the fields of real estate, medicine, education, housing, sales and marketing, plumbing, and entertainment. More importantly, they raised 33 Grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and, to date, two great-great-grandchildren. Dolores and Cyril were married 62 years at the time of his passing in 2000.

In addition to being a joyful, loving and resourceful wife, mother and homemaker, Dolores was a PTA President and, for St. Finbar Parish, the host and teacher of released time Catholic education students from nearby Brett Harte Elementary School. Less formally the Boysen household was a warm and welcoming gathering place for the friends of her children over four decades. At the age of 45 she took up oil painting and became a prolific painter and instructor in her home studio as well as for the City of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department. Her works were exhibited and sold throughout the LA area.

Dolores is preceded in death by her late husband, Cyril Boysen, by her sons, Michael Charles Boysen and Robert John Boysen, by her daughters-in-law Laurie Bottoms and Mary Ellen Boysen, by sons-in-law Steven Champ and Sandy Swanson and by grandchildren Mary Jane Boysen, Courtney Boysen and Dane Boysen.

Dolores is survived by 11 of her children and their spouses. In birth order they are Thomas Boysen and Wendy Temira, Frances Champ, Joseph and Merry Boysen, Barbara and Bob Forth, Dick Boysen, Joan Boysen, Jean and Ron Stover, Jeff and Diane Boysen, Theresa and Randy Eiguren, James and Karen Boysen, and Elizabeth and Steve Sirk.

Memorials, instead of flowers, are preferred and the family suggests the Spokane Guilds’ School & Neuromuscular Center, one of Dolores’s favorite charities which serves developmentally delayed infants in Spokane, WA. https://www.guildschool.org/ . Donations may be sent to The Guilds’ School, 2118 W. Garland Avenue, Spokane, WA 99205 Attn: Richard Boysen. Also donations may be made at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1437265.