Bernie Lilleberg

Bernie Glenn Lilleberg, age 96 of Atwater died Saturday evening, December 14, at the Lakeview Ranch in Darwin, MN.
Visitation will be Tues., Dec. 17, 2013 from 5:00 to 7:30pm at Peterson Bros. Funeral Home in Atwater. There will be a private family service. Memorials are preferred to Lakeview Ranch Dementia Foundation.
Bernie Glenn Lilleberg was born on the family farm near Avoca, Minnesota, on August 2, 1917 to George Carl and Millie Ann (Sogge) Lilleberg. The family moved to Edward Township near Raymond, Minnesota, when he was one. He was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar and attended Priam District 80 School.
He married Lucille Erna Denton on November 8, 1942, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Raymond. They moved to Atwater one year later, farming together in Harrison Township from 1943 until retirement in 1993.
Bernie was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Atwater, holding numerous offices and serving on several boards. He was also a member of the Farmers Union, Atwater Creamery Board, Harrison Township Board and served as Harrison Township Assessor.
Bernie was a kind and gentle man of quiet strength. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Bernie's baptismal gown was made by his mother and later worn by all of his children and many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren for their baptisms. Bernie took great pride in playing softball for Raymond and Atwater. He enjoyed farming, milking his Holsteins and especially taking care of the young stock. He always made sure they were fed, comfortable and secure before he called it a day. He enjoyed hunting, trapping and fishing, always looking for the opportunity to be on a lake with his family, and especially with his lifelong sweetheart, Lucille.
After retiring from years of dairy farming, Bernie and Lucille were always on the go, spending time with family and friends, traveling and enjoying the freedom to go when and where they wanted . They were always together and if they weren't visiting someone, they were happily enjoying a cup of coffee and Lucille's homemade cookies at their kitchen table. In the summer, you could bet that he spent a part of almost every day in the garden and a bowl of fresh raspberries was always waiting for lucky guests. Their faith in God and their passion for St. John Church and School was central to both Bernie and Lucille's lives and in the home where they raised their family.
Bernie is survived by three sons, Stan (and Barb) of Atwater, Jim (and MaryLee) of Fargo, Jon (and Andrea) of Maple Grove; a son-in-law, Brian Kohn of Duluth; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Eileen Denton of Atwater.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Lucille in 2009; infant daughter, Terri Jean; daughter, Barbara Ann Kohn in 2006; parents, George and Millie; sister, Grace Mickelson; and two brothers, Clarence and Gordon Lilleberg.
Blessed be his memory.

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