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June K. (Rolstad) Berg - In Memoriam

"JUNE K. (ROLSTAD) BERG -  IN MEMORIAM"

June

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(Obituary published - Minneapolis Star Tribune, Sunday October 26th, 2008)

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(Obituary Now Updated to October 2018)

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June K. (Rolstad) Berg of Fridley, MN passed away Thursday October 23rd, 2008, after a long weary struggle with Alzheimer’s and just 16 days short of her 81st birthday on November 8th. June was proceeded in death by her parents Haldis and Henry Rolstad and one sister Lenore.

June was raised on a small dairy farm near Colfax, WI during the "Great Depression" years. June graduated from Colfax High School in 1946. She was first employed at Gillette Tire, then Presto Cooker factories in Eau Claire and later Doughboy Industries in New Richmond.

June married Stanton Berg in August 1952 and became a homemaker, a wife and the love and light of Stan’s life. June was also a loving mother and grandmother. June lived with Stan and the family first in Chisholm, then Duluth and finally Fridley, Minnesota.

June traveled extensively with Stan to international forensic science conferences throughout the US, Canada and Europe. She was part of an early forensic cultural exchange with Russia in 1969 at the height of the cold war. She visited her favorite city London 9 times. In particular she enjoyed visits with her friends the Bruce family of nearby Bexley, Kent just south of London. A trip to Rome in 1973 resulted in an audience and a handshake with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican. She led 2 trips to Norway taking her mother and later her sister Betty to visit her mother’s birthplace in Rodoy.

June loved dancing. She and Stan danced the night away in such exotic places as Moscow and Leningrad. She has participated in State receptions by Her Majesty’s Government (UK), President Leone (Italy), City and State of Zurich, City and University of Edinburgh, US Embassy in Rome and many others.

Personal photography of family and travel was a great joy for June. June had many interests as evidenced by her array of collections. (Angels, Avon Collectibles, Bells, Cobalt Blue Depression Glass, Cups, Dolls, Historical Family Pictures, Plates and Spoons.) June enjoyed the many outings with the family in the early days for “Rock Hounding” and Agate collecting. Camping out with the family for a week in Custer Park, SD, was for years an annual event.  

June also much enjoyed her church activities at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fridley where she was a member for 50 years. She participated for several years in the (College Level) International (BSF) Bible Study Fellowship. June delivered “Meals on Wheels.” She also served on the Church Board. She taught Sunday school, was a member of the Bell Choir and frequently served as a Church Greeter on Sunday. She was a Girl Scout Leader. June also served on an evangelism team that called on church members and visitors. June was also a frequent nursing home visitor.

In 1995 June and Stan co-sponsored a little African girl from Kenya through their church endorsed "Compassion International Children's Program". Stan has continued this program in both June and Stan's names...(25 years now.)  The last sponsored your lady (Sheila) is doing so well that Stan and June encouraged Sheila to continue her education into a University...She not only knows her own local language but has mastered English and is now studying French...Compassion International was so impressed that they now predict Sheila may go on to "Change the face of Kenya".

June was a longtime member of the Fridley American Legion Auxiliary. June enjoyed reading. Her favorite authors were Max Lucado, Helen Steiner Rice, Charles R. Swindoll and Billy Graham. She enjoyed the music of the 40s and 50s, as well as classic gospel music. Her first love was the Country and Old Time music that she grew up with. The violin’s soulful sounds always brought poignant memories of her youth and  her father Henry and a favorite uncle Jake who played the violin.

June was a modest and humble lady. June had a smile that would light up her entire face. One of June's Iowa cousins (Ione) asked her daughter if she remembered June...her daughter responded, "Yes, she was the lady with the "friendly smile and the kind eyes"...one of June's Redeemer Lutheran Church friends (Annette) once said of June's smile: "Whenever June smiled, even her eyes smiled." 

June's friends and family will always remember her sweet, kind, loving nature. June gave little import to her own accomplishments. She was a lady who possessed both a great inner and an outer beauty. June’s character and personality never strayed far from that of the original Colfax, Wisconsin farm girl.

June was a lady whose honesty surpassed anyone or anything that Stan had ever known...Stan used to comment that he thought He had married and Angel...But Angels do not marry humans and Angels do not get Alzheimer's...Stan recalls the time that June was driving her car on Mississippi Street in Fridley when June encountered a construction site at the intersection with University Avenue. In the confusion, June went through a red light. There were no police around at the time so no one stopped June...June however, immediately drove her car to the Fridley Police Department and turned herself in for running a red light. I am sure that anyone else would have simply thanked their "lucky stars" and went on their way...The Fridley Police Dept did not give June a ticket and told her that since there was no accident, that she could go on her way and to just be more careful in the future...I am sure that to this day, the Fridley Police Department  talks about the lady who turned herself in for running a red light.

Below survivors listing has been adjusted as of the year 2018)

June was survived by her husband Stan, daughters Susan Ellen and Julie Lynn, sons David Michael (Now also deceased) (Khim) and Daniel Lee (Diane), 10 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren  and 1 Great Great Grandchild...(23 Grandchildren in Total.)

The ten (10) Grandchildren are: Kristen Marie, Gretchen Kay, Steven Oneal, Jordan Mackenzie, Allison Leigh, Michael Curtis, Amanda Marie, Erik Oneal, Emily Rose, and Daniel Morgan. The (12) Great grandchildren are, Andrea Jean, Brianna Holly, Marijane Antoinette, Owen Oneal, Katrina Ann, June Marie, Adeline, Luke, IIleana Charlotte, Sophie Olivia, Devon Jessie and Brandon Lee. The one (1) Great, Great, Great Grandchild was  grandson Gage Todd Robert,  born to Great Great Granddaughter Briana Holly.

Surviving June is only one Sister Betty.  (Sisters Lyndelle, Lenore, are deceased as are Brothers Denis and Jerry.)   

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 june

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Memorials are preferred to the "June K. Berg Old Chapel Repair Memorial Fund" at Redeemer Lutheran Church or to the Alzheimer’s Association.  

Funeral service at  11 AM Monday October 27, 2008 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 61 NE Mississippi Way, Fridley, MN 55432 (763-574-7445). Visitation in church Monday 1 hour prior to service. Following a church luncheon, Interment Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.  Miller Funeral Home, Fridley Chapel  763-571-1300. 


Please visit June's Guest Book by Legacy.Com. I am sure that June would be honored if you were to leave a message  in her guest book:  

 Click on this Guestbook link.


(Below is a copy of June's Funeral Service remembrance handout.)

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                                        June's Funeral

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For the Children and Grandchildren's view of their Grandmother, click below on the 2011 Mother's Day tribute as published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

 June K. Berg - Mothers Day 2011 - In Memoriam  

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Stan's Note: (March 2020)  Over 34,500 people have visited this page since it was first created in honor and memory of June in 2008.