Evelyn Veronica (Vogel) Berglund

Evelyn Veronica Berglund passed away at Sanford Health in Bemidji surrounded by her family on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 9, at 11:00 AM at St. Philip’s Church, 7th and Beltrami Avenue, in Bemidji, MN. Visitation is one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Bemidji.

Evelyn was born on September 8, 1930, to Ruth and Christian Vogel in St. Elmo, IL. She was raised on a dairy farm, along with her 8 sisters. She talked quite often about how life was, living through the Great Depression, and the hard work she and her siblings had to do on the farm. She worked for the Pipeline after graduating from high school, and her job brought her to Bemidji where she met her husband, Victor Berglund. They were married not long after that on January 27, 1951 She was the bookkeeper for Berglund Heating, a mother of 5, a housewife, and a volunteer. She worked at St. Philip’s school as a lunch server when her children were attending school there, and later on as a Foster Grandparent from 2004 – 2017. She loved being a Foster Grandparent, and many times would receive hugs from the children she was involved with in the Kindergarten program when she would see them at church. She also was a Foster Grandparent at J. W. Smith before moving to St. Philip’s School. Evelyn volunteered at St. Philip’s Clothing Depot for many years. She enjoyed going to the Senior Center to socialize and see the new friends she met there.

She loved to tat and crochet and made many beautiful doilies, Christmas tree decorations, and other interesting creations. She enjoyed challenging anyone to a game of Cribbage and would successfully beat the pants off whomever she played up until her last days. The highlight of her life was to spend time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It was a normal practice for her kids to gather at her house for happy hour weekly to spend time together and discuss life in general. She always would put out a big spread of snacks for us, even in her last weeks, never giving in to the pain she constantly had. She was a strong-willed person, to say the least.

She is survived by her children: Dennis (Cheryl) Berglund, Darlene (Matthew) Bratager, Carol (Daniel) Lauderbaugh, JoAnn (Gary) Lewis, and Alan Berglund. Grandchildren are Tiffany (Ben) Berg, Jessica Berglund, Derek (Rachael) Bratager, Michael Bratager, Toni (Brett) Leach, Danielle (Jake) Bartz, Chelsea (James) Fluey, Nic (Faye) Lewis, Holly (Jeremy) Wieneke, Kaitlyn, Jonathan, and Andrew Berglund. Great-grandchildren are Brett, Beau, Cooper, Everly, Tessa, Brady, Jasper, Noah, Addelae, Taylor, Reid, Logan, Victor, Kaydence and Roselyn; sister Dolores Schoenhoff; and good friend Annette Gregoire.  She was preceded in death by her parents, seven sisters, special friend Donna Gregoire, and husband Victor.

Memorials in Evelyn’s honor may be made to St. Philip’s School. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family in care of Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home at www.olsonschwartzfuneralhome.com

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