Joyce A. von Berge

Obituary

Joyce Arlene von Berge (Soderquist) was born on February 4, 1935, to Arnold and Annie Soderquist at their farm home in Isanti County, Dalbo, Minnesota. Joyce attended a small country school, District # 66, near their home through the 8th grade. She went to high school in Princeton, Minnesota through the 12th grade.  

After graduation, Joyce lived with her sister, Lorraine, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and worked for 4 years, first at Art Instructions Incorporated and then at Iowa National Insurance Company, both in Minneapolis, MN. They went dancing a lot with friends, which is where she met Leroy von Berge, at the Marigold Ballroom in Minneapolis. They were married on October 12, 1957, and made their home on Leroy’s farm. Joyce and Leroy had three children, Diane, Barbara, and Steven. Steven was killed in a bike accident in July of 1970. The couple shared 66 years together.

Joyce helped with the barn work, and field work, and unloaded lots of hay and straw bales. Joyce enjoyed working in the yard, especially tending to her many flower beds.  She enjoyed sewing and sewed lots of her children’s clothes and pieced together many quilts. She did crochet and enjoyed reading and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Joyce was involved in the U of M Extension Club and was an active member of Friedens United Church of Christ. She made baby quilts and crocheted baby caps for the Glencoe Hospital Volunteer Service. She especially enjoyed traveling with her sisters.

Joyce is survived by
Husband, Leroy von Berge;
Daughters, Diane Leonard and her husband, Kevin, Barbara Kiel and her husband, Don;
Grandchildren, Matthew Leonard and his significant other, Darbi Berkman, Michael Leonard, Laura Leonard and her fiancé, Logan Salner, Brandon Kiel and his wife, Emerald, Nicole Kiel;
Great-Grandson, Shane Leonard;
Brothers-in-law and Sisters-in-law, Harold Von Berge and his wife, Muriel, Vernon Von Berge, Marlene Kroells;
Numerous nieces and nephews.

Joyce was preceded by her parents, Arnold and Annie Soderquist; son, Steven von Berge; siblings, Leonard Soderquist, Reynold Soderquist, Stanley Soderquist, Clifford Soderquist, Lorraine Blomquist, Irene Hoeft, and Jeanette Johnson.