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The oldest food concession at the fair is the Hamline Church Dining Hall — it's celebrating 120 years this year.  

On Thursday, it opened without the familiar smile of Dennis Boom, who passed away earlier this year. 

Boom was a mortician by trade. He led the Holcomb-Henry-Boom-Purcell Funeral Home but every year, for decades, he came out to the fair to volunteer at the Hamline Church Dining Hall. 

On Wednesday, as the dining hall staff prepped for the 

Cathy Wurzer

Author

Dennis Boom passed away earlier this year. On Wednesday, as the Hamline Church Dining Hall staff prepped for the start of the fair, they remembered Boom for his warmth.

The oldest food concession at the fair is the Hamline Church Dining Hall.  It's celebrating 120 years this year.  It's the place where you can sit down and enjoy homemade ham-loaf and a bottomless cup of coffee   Today it opens without the familiar smile of Dennis Boom.  Boom passed away earlier this year. He was a mortician by trade.  He led the Holcomb-Henry-Boom-Purcell Funeral Home but every year, for decades, he came out to the fair to volunteer at the Hamline Church Dining Hall. Yesterday, as the dining hall staff prepped for the start of the fair, they remembered Boom for his warmth.

Parting thoughts: Longtime State Fair volunteer to be missed

Dennis Boom made the coffee at the Hamline Church Dining Hall for decades.

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