Joan Palm

Joan M. Palm, age 73, of Waite Park, formerly of Willmar, died Friday afternoon, April 4, at the Sterling Park Health Care Center in Waite Park in the presence of her loving family.
Funeral services will be 12:30 PM, Friday, April 11, at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar with Rev. Steven Knudson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar (320-235-1651). Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. The family may be contacted by calling Katy Westlund at (320) 529-8249.
Joan Marie Palm was born June 12, 1934, in Lafayette, Minnesota, the daughter of Stuart and H. Blossom (Larson) Bergquist. She was raised in Minneapolis and later St. Cloud, was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and graduated from St. Cloud Technical High School in 1952. She received her teachers' training at the St. Cloud State College. In the early 1950's, she married Eugene Westlund and they later divorced. In the early 1970's, she married Mertin Erickson and they later divorced. In 1975, she married Douglas Palm and lived on Lake Koronis. Douglas died in 1983. In December 2007, she moved to St. Cloud. She was employed as a homemaker and at Jennie-O Foods in Willmar for many years. Joan opened her heart and home to anyone in need of a friend or a helping hand, regardless of their position in life. She was also an artist and enjoyed rollerskating in her youth.
She is survived by a son, Robert Westlund of Superior, Wisconsin; a daughter, Kathleen Westlund of St. Cloud; two stepchildren, Doug Palm, Jr. and Gloria Palm; a granddaughter, Katy Westlund (and Andy Gertken) of St. Cloud; two great-grandchildren, Roman Gertken and Vincent Westlund; a sister, Camilla Bergquist of Willmar and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Douglas Palm in 1983; and a great-grandson, Jaron Westlund.