McAlpine, Irene Verna (Mrs. Harold) 1926-2012

MCALPINE, HARALDSON, BJERKE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 1/29/2013 at 10:56:07

IRENE V. McALPINE
BORN: January 14, 1926, Jasper, Minnesota
PASSED AWAY: December 31, 2012 , Sheldon, Iowa
SERVICE: January 4, 2013
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church; Sheldon, Iowa
FINAL RESTING PLACE St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery ~ Sheldon, Iowa
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home ~ Sheldon, Iowa

Irene Verna McAlpine (Haraldson) was born on January 14, 1926 to Olaus Haraldson and Alvina Bjerke in Jasper, Minnesota. She was raised on a farm near Jasper. As a young girl Irene attended the Rosedell Lutheran Church where she was confirmed. In 1943, she graduated from the Jasper High School. She attended Rasmussen Business College in Sioux Falls graduating in 1944. During World War II she was employed by the Department of Defense, working out of Las Vegas, Nevada. On August 16, 1946 she was united in marriage to Harold (Midge) McAlpine in Luverne, Minnesota. They made their home in Sheldon, Iowa except for a one year period (1957) in New Ulm, Minnesota.

Irene was a member of St. Pat’s Catholic Church since 1946. She was also a member of St. Pat’s Ladies Guild and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
Irene was a person of extreme faith and she shared that faith with her children. Irene enjoyed all sort of crafts including knitting, crocheting, sewing and ceramics. She so enjoyed making something special for her children, grandchildren and friends. These special gifts will always be cherished. Irene enjoyed baking and decorating cakes. Irene also enjoyed making traditional Norwegian treats during the holidays. Her "lutefisk" and "lefse" were high on her list of favorites – not sure her children acquired her taste for the "lutefisk". She enjoyed camping, planting flowers and most of all visiting and spending time with her 10 children, the many grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. She always had the coffee on, served with a smile and warm hug.

Irene is survived by three daughters; Patricia (Mrs. Craig) Den Hartog of Sheldon, Iowa, Susan (Mrs. Gary) Behrens of Lincoln, Nebraska, Mary Ruyter of Spirit Lake, Iowa; seven sons; William (Bill) McAlpine of Sheldon, Iowa, Patrick McAlpine of Sheldon, Iowa, David (his wife Jan) McAlpine of Omaha, Nebraska, Michael (his wife Jean) McAlpine of Sioux Center, Iowa, James (his wife Lynette) McAlpine of Sheldon, Iowa, Daniel (his wife Cheryl )McAlpine of Omaha, Nebraska and Robert (his wife Erica) McAlpine of Hull, Iowa. Irene is also survived by 30 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, her two sisters Pearl Koopman and June Wood of California, three sisters-in-law, five brothers-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.

Irene is preceded in death by her husband (Midge), her parents, four sisters and two brothers.
Source: Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon, IA., obit.