OBITUARY
Gerda Irene (Bergan) Larson was born September 18, 1918 to Nils and Marie (Sund) Bergan in Stony Brook Township. She went to elementary school in Wendell and on June 10, 1937 graduated with honors from Elbow Lake High School. She worked in Minneapolis a few years and on June 1, 1941 she was united in marriage to Alfred Larson of rural Wendell. They had two children, Richard and Sharon. Alfred passed away on September 3, 1965. Then Irene went to work in Fergus Falls at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Office. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage as she could talk and write the language. She visited Norway 5 times as she had many relatives living there.
Irene spent time teaching Sunday School, and was Superintendent of Teachers and President of Ladies Aid. Irene took pride in leading the Sunday School Christmas Program for many years. She was also a 4-H leader, belonged to Sons of Norway and was a quilt sewer for church. Irene knitted mittens and slippers for her family and if they were lucky she knitted a sweater for them as well. Some of Irene’s hobbies were gardening, traveling, having coffee with friends and playing games with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Irene loved living on the farm. She raised chickens and sheep and was excited to get baby chicks and lambs. Irene remained on the farm until she was 80 years old when she moved to Alexandria on October 18, 1998. Irene quickly made new friends and enjoyed spending time shopping and playing cards with them. She moved to Peaceful Bliss where she enjoyed her Fruit Loops for breakfast every morning until the Lord took her home. She loved all of her family and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, brother Orris Bergan, son Richard Larson, infant son, son-in-law Dave Heinrich and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by daughter Sharon Heinrich and daughter-in-law Bonnie Larson; four grandchildren Jason and Karisa Heinrich, Amie (Heinrich) Wollin, Sarah and David Gette and Matthew and Tiffany Larson. Great-grandchildren: Ganon and Anissa Heinrich, Taylor Schultz, Rylee Wollin, Olivia, Zachary and Andrew Gette, and Sigur and Thor Larson; sister Bernice Haugrose and sister-in-law Norma Kittleson; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials are preferred to the First Lutheran Radio Fund, Knute Nelson Hospice, or the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Fund in Wendell, MN.
Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home of Alexandria.
www.andersonfuneral.net