Orville K. Berkness, 85Free Access


Orville K. Berkness was born on March 30, 1933 to Steffen and Botilda (Krogh) Berkness in Lakefield, MN. He was baptized into his Christian faith on May 7, 1933 and he received his education in the Lakefield Public Schools; graduating in the Class of 1951.

Orv was united in marriage with Fay (Wehmeyer) Foley and her two sons, David and Edward Foley on May 28, 1960 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Storden, MN. Their marriage was blessed with four daughters, Vicki, Lisa, Stefanie and Heather. Orv and Fay made their home in Windom until 2015, when they moved up to Crystal, MN to be closer to family. Orv’s health had recently been declining and he passed away peacefully on November 12, 2018 at his home in Crystal at the age of 85 years.

Orv proudly served in the US Navy from November 1955 to August 1957 and the Naval Reserves until November of 1961.  In 1959, he began his 32-year career in road construction as a highway technician working in the MN Dot Windom office.  For number of years after retiring from MN Dot, he continued to work part-time as a groundskeeper at the Windom Country Club.

Orville was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Windom, the American Legion Post #206 and the Eagles Club. Orville took great pride in his Intarsia woodworking, serving his church, and helping his church community rebuild the ALC after the 2006 fire. He had many hobbies and enjoyments throughout his life, which included working with a race car pit crew, bowling, golfing, snowmobile riding, camping, playing cards, watching the MN Twins and the MN Vikings, caramel and lefse making, reading, socializing with friends and most of all, spending time with his family. He was a loving husband, a nurturing father, a kind grandfather and great grandfather.

Orville is survived by his six children, David (Cheryl) Foley of North Branch; Edward (Margee) Foley of Yuba City, CA; Vicki (Brad) Hartog of Highlands Ranch, CO; Lisa Berkness of Lakewood, CO; Stefanie (Jon) Beaulieu of Coon Rapids; Heather (Brian) Barrett of Crystal; 7 grandchildren, Erin Foley, Katelyn Foley, Ashley Hartog, Zachary Hartog, Nicole (Gregg) Borgstrom, Brent (Angela) Beaulieu, Jessica (Tim) McGroarty; 7 great-grandchildren, Bannon Wilhelmi, Jack Borgstrom, Bjorn and Charlotte Beaulieu, Ava and Ian McGroarty and Oscar Thon; two sisters, Grace Gerdes of Arnolds Park, IA and Evelyn Hussong of Lakefield; sister-in-law Delores Berkness of Worthington; and many nieces and nephews.

Orville is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, one great-granddaughter, Emma Foley, three sisters and one brother, Marine Christiansen, Geneve Jansen, Curtis Berkness and LaVonne Doeden.

Blessed by the memory of Orville K. Berkness

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