Jean Bekkerus Berkness

Jean Adele Berkness (Bekkerus) Age 90. Passed October 3 in Plymouth, MN. Preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Vernon; parents Alfred and Marie Bekkerus, siblings: Donald (Delores) Bekkerus, Marian Butterfield, Allen (Marlene) Bekkerus, brother-in-law Loren Berkness. Survived by sister Shirley (Richard) Glenn, sister-in-law Thelma Berkness; daughters Laurel Erickson (Greg Fall), Sandra Greenway (Jim Lau), Janice (Mark) Laven and son Daniel Berkness; grandchildren Brian (Betsy) Erickson, Brandon Erickson, Jonathan Laven, Julie Laven (Eduardo Gomez); great grandsons Owen and Levi Erickson; many nieces and nephews. Jean attended a one room country school through sixth grade while living on the family farm in Glyndon, MN. In 1943, the family moved to Moorhead where she graduated from high school in 1950 and with honors from Concordia College in 1954. She taught in Roseau, Wheaton, and Minneapolis. In 1956, Vernon met Jean at a Luther League canoe trip at Lake Calhoun. In July 1958, they married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead and in 2018 celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends. Jean loved to sew and make clothes for her 3 daughters. As a skilled seamstress she taught evening adult education-garment sewing classes; she was a volunteer judge of sewing garments and handcrafts at the MN State Fair for 30 years. Jean skillfully managed apartment buildings, cared about people and tended to the books. Jean was a talented homemaker, creating lovely dinners for many cherished family and friends. Jean loved her church family at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hopkins where she and Vernon were members and served for 55 years. She enjoyed planning educational and women's programs with her friends for Gethsemane Church Women (GCW) and served as a member and president for the GCW, church council, and Memorial Foundation. She was generous creating and donating Scandinavian handcrafts for the church Scandinavian Fall Fair. She also appreciated many friends in church circle, quilting group, Hopkins Women's Club, and Lifetime member of Sons of Norway (Vestland Lodge). In recent years, Vernon, and Jean found community among kind friends and caregivers at a senior living place in Plymouth. Jean wanted everyone to know that because of her salvation through Jesus Christ, as her Lord and Savior, she now rests in His eternal home. Memorial Service at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Saturday, October 22 at 11 am, Visitation at 10 am. A luncheon will follow the Columbarium interment - on site - immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 715 Minnetonka Mills Rd, Hopkins, 55343. 952-935-1753. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Strobeck Johnson 952-938-9020

Tributes

Jean Bekkerus Berkness

September 19, 1932 - October 3, 2022

Tributes

Jean Bekkerus Berkness

September 19, 1932 - October 3, 2022

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