Share this pageJune K. Berg's Gifts of Redeemer's "Lutefisk" Dinners
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 06 September 2009 19:11
- Written by Stanton O. Berg
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Several years ago, the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fridley introduced and sponsored an event in the fall of the year called the "Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner." This event turned out to be a very popular one that is very well attended. The event has been continued as an annual affair.
June has always been very proud of her Norwegian Heritage and the associated traditions. Having "Lutefisk" for the holidays has always been one of June's very special joys.
Redeemer Lutheran Church is permitting June and I to participate in this annual event in a special way. June is providing funding from her life savings to enable Redeemer Lutheran Church to offer free tickets to this popular event for any Redeemer Church member having economic hardships or budget difficulties that would otherwise prevent their attending this function. I am simply acting as June's Norwegian Troll and her earthly agent in carrying out June's wishes - June's gift as a reflection of June and God's Love!
It is also our goal to promote the awareness of Alzheimer's disease and thereby promote research and funding to find a cure for this terrible disease. Alzheimer's disease is the 3th leading cause of disease death in the United States and causes the death of over 1400 people every day in the US including approx 20 Minnesotan's!
These gifts are also intended to honor the memory of June K. Berg, a long time member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church.
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June died from the complications of Alzheimer's disease on October 23rd, 2008.
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June, a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church for over 50 years, was also a very active member of the church. (Church Board, Sunday School Teacher, Girl Scout Leader, Evangelism Team etc...she was also a frequent kitchen volunteer as noted in the bottom photo of the Redeemer Church Women in the fall of 1984.)
I know that June is thrilled to have an opportunity to make love gifts of tickets for this special event to those having an economic hardship. June is always honored to participate in promoting this time honored Norwegian tradition and hopefully brighten the day for some needy members of Redeemer Lutheran who also love this traditional dinner.
This love gift from June is reserved for members in the church who are economically disadvantaged. The administration of the program will be by the Staff of the Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Normally the event is announced by a paragraph in the Redeemer Church Sunday Bulletin about a month in advance of the event and every Sunday until the dinner date is passed...the end of the announcement paragraph normally contains this comment about June's gift of the Lutefisk dinners:
"Tickets are available to anyone having economic hardships or budget difficulties, as a love gift from June Berg and as a reflection of God's Love."
It is intended that a special letter from June to the ticket recipient, will accompany each such ticket.
Note: Redeemer Lutheran's use of the proceeds raised from this event are for the Redeemer Missionaries.
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June and Stan were both appointed as Purple Angel World Dementia Ambassadors (October 2013) for the purpose of promoting world wide awareness of Alzheimer's and the dementia diseases. Such an awareness will in turn promote funding for research to find a cure and to promote proper care practices. June was appointed an honorary Purple Angel Ambassador with Stan as her representative in order to promote her many charitable programs that all have an Alzheimer's and dementia awareness connection. June is the only resident of Heaven to have received this honor...and who actually lives among the Angels...The Purple Angel world headquarters is in Devon, United Kingdom.
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Current and Past Event's Log - June's Participation
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1. Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner - October 22nd, 2009.
2, Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner - October 28th, 2010.
3. Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner - October 27th, 2011.
4. Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner - October 25th, 2012.
5. Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner - October 24th, 2013.
6. Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner - October 23rd, 2014..
7. Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner - October 22nd, 2015.
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(Redeemer Church Women - Kitchen - Fall 1984 - June 2nd from right).
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Reader's Comments
Lynn Gudmanson - Fond du Lac, Wiscosnin - (29 September 2013): "Around here, Lutefisk is a staple...this community is largely Norweigen...But Im German...I have saurkraut."
Marsha McKneely Ault - Nacogdoches, Texas - (29 September 2013): "I picked June out (photo) before you said. I had to look up what "Lutefisk" was and I think I would enjoy baked Cod much better also... mentioned about you and June at Church this morning. You both have impacted my life. My dad is a couple of years older than you. I am watching over him now. He lives one house down from our homestead. Hope the poem helps you feel June close by. M."
Gabriella Rader - Centralia, Washington - (3 October 2013): "My in laws fix it every year for Christmas Eve with peas in white sauce and potato's. they really like it. we have a lot of white sauce with lutefisk ."
Humberto Ruiz - North Salem, New York - (28 September 2014): "An act of kindness , many Blessings...Our Lord sees all acts! He Blesses those who give and those who receive! More importantly He Blesses those who do not give as well!!!."
G'Anna Dent - Amarillo, Texas - (28 September 2014): " What a kind and generous thing to do!...(June.)"
Sharol Lucas Leavitt - Little Rock, Arkansas - (28 September 2014): "This is so sweet. We should all help others that are less fortunate. This is what we are suppose to do."
Catherine Jones-Hatcher - Richmond, Virginia - (28 September 2014): " ... such a nice gesture... glad some can go who otherwise could not..".
Jackie Irving - Liverpool, United Kingdom - (5 October 2015): "So good to have you back Stan...hope your well rested...wonderful story as always ..I was really interested to know what Lutefisk was...untill I found reference to it in the readers comments on junes page ...I must say it sounds delicious ...what wonderful people June and you are to provide for those less fortunate...its such a selfless act of kindness...thank you for sharing this lovely story Stan!"
Karen Glover - Oakdale, New York - (5 October 2015):"Gee I never heard of Lutefisk, and I am of Norwegian decent (mom's side) very interesting, thanks for sharing."
Patricia Strayer - Flagstaff, Arizona - (28 October 2015):"Awesome...are you Missouri Synod? I'm blessed with an awesome Pastor and fellowship as they stepped up to make my dementia friendly church service for Caregivers and those challenge by dementia a realty...as you know Lutherans ALWAYS have food ."
Danielle Farley Whitworth - Diboll, Texas - (28 October 2015): "That is a lovely, kind-hearted gesture in June's honor. What a wonderful idea and the recipients of the tickets I'm sure we're so grateful. I will keep that idea tucked back in my memory. Thank you for sharing!"
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June's Passing
June first noticed a problem with her short term memory during 1997. Short term memory loss is a hallmark first symptom of Alzheimer's. In January of 1998, June was diagnosed by the University of Minnesota as being in the early stages of Alzheimer's. June's long journey into the shadows of this terrible disease ended after almost 12 years when early one morning as June lay like and exhausted solder on a battlefeld, she felt God's gentle touch on her shoulder and heard the words: "come home June". June passed away on 23 October 2008 from Aspiration Pneumonia, a common complication of Alzheimer's. June's funeral notice as published in the Minneapolis Star in October 2008 can be seen on this website under the "In Memoriam" label - or simply Click on this link:
"June K. (Rolstad) Berg - In Memoriam"