Grinna, Bernice Idella (Thorson) -- 1911 - 005,

GRINNA, HAGEN, THORSON, HUTCHINSON, SEAVEY, DUXBURY, RUEN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/4/2006 at 19:15:31

Bernice Grinna

Bernice Grinna, age 94, of Decorah, Iowa, died Tuesday, December 20, 2005, at the Tweeten-Lutheran Health Center in Spring Grove, Minn., following a long illness. Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 28, at Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah. Rev. Susan Debner officiated. Interment was in the Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah. Schluter-Balik Funeral Home of Decorah was in charge of arrangements.

Bernice Idella (Thorson) Grinna was born September 21, 1911, the daughter of Alfred and Emma (Hagen) Thorson near Spring Grove. She was baptized and confirmed in her Norwegian Lutheran faith at the Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church. At the age of seven her mother died and Bernice was raised by her Uncle Mike’s family. She attended school at Bunge School in Wilmington Township.

While Bernice was working for George and Annie Frye on a farm north of Decorah, Iowa, she met Erick Mervin Julian Grinna. She traveled to Jackson, Miss., by train to marry Julian Feb. 19, 1943, when he was in the Army. They had two children, Thomas Erick and Betty Jean. Bernice was a housewife, but worked for several years at Wapsie Produce. Bernice was a member of the Glenwood Lutheran Church and was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed baking, crocheting, and doing whatever she could for her family and friends.

Bernice’s survivors include one son, Thomas (Cheryl) Grinna of Redmond, Wash.; one daughter, Betty (Richard) Hutchinson of Aurora, Colo.; three granddaughters, Ericka Grinna of Los Gatos, Calif., Tracy Grinna of Kirkland, Wash., and Korrin (Matt) Seavey of Atco, N. J.; one great-granddaughter, Hadley Seavey of Atco; one brother, Arnold Thorson of Spring Grove; one brother-in-law, Alden (Esther) Grinna of Decorah; three sisters-in-law, Stella Grinna of Decorah, Olive Grinna of Waukon, and Thelma Thorson of Decorah; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Julian Grinna; one brother, Ernest Thorson; one sister, Gladys Duxbury; four brothers-in-law, Grant, Vernon, and Marlin Grinna and Albert Ruen; and three sisters-in-law, Helen Ruen, Vivian Grinna, and Della Thorson.

Casketbearers were Gary Frye, Jim Grinna, Elton and Nathan Thorson, and Gary and Bruce Sacquitne.

Waukon Standard, January 4, 2006

Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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