Muriel H. Berry
Muriel H. Berry, 94, Lake Mills, passed away Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at the Mason City Hospice House of Iowa. Memorial services were held Monday, April 16, at Emmons Lutheran Church with Rev. Christopher Martin officiating. Interment took place in Oaklawn Cemetery. Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, Albert Lea, Minn., was in charge of arrangements. Memorials are preferred to the Emmons Library or Emmons Cemetery Fund.
Muriel H. Berry was born April 25, 1923 in Leland, to Bernt and Bertha (Hanna) Haugen. She spent her youth in Leland, graduating from high school there prior to attending Waldorf College for one year before teaching in a local country school.
On Sept. 17, 1943, Muriel wed Edwin Merle Berry at Leland Lutheran Church. For the majority of their 53-year marriage, they lived in Emmons, Minn. where they raised their four children. Muriel was a farm wife until they moved into town. She also was employed by Fleetguard Industries for 26 years until her retirement. Later, she enjoyed the children of Emmons, when she went back to work as a lunch lady at the Emmons school.
Muriel was active in Emmons Lutheran Church for over 60 years. She enjoyed her Bunco club and exercise class. She was an avid reader, who spent many years volunteering at the Emmons library two days a week. In addition to her enjoyment of jigsaw puzzles, she had a passion for baseball and her Minnesota Twins. In her last year, she lived at Mills Harbour Assisted Living, Lake Mills, where she reconnected with many friends from her earlier years.
Muriel is survived by three children: Carole (Gary) Edwin, Faribault, Minn.; Patricia Thomp-son, Brownsville, Ore.; and Dennis (Beth) Berry, Northfield, Minn.; a son-in-law, Doug Loyd, Walters, Minn.; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Muriel was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin; daughter, Rella Loyd; great-granddaughter, Ashley Krell; brothers and their spouses, Gim (Virgil), Claire (Betty), and Allen Haugen; sisters and husbands: Olga (Oscar) Jordahl, Mabel (Richard) Hugelen, Eva (Orland) Johnson, and Julia in her infancy; and brothers-in-law and spouses: Millard (Beulah), Marion (Alice), John (Margaret), and Erwin Berry.
