Iona Mae ‘Ione’ Berger, 95, of Brookings, passed away Monday, April 15, 2019, at Grand Living at Lake Lorraine, in Sioux Falls.
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Iona Mae ‘Ione’ Berger, 95, of Brookings, passed away Monday, April 15, 2019, at Grand Living at Lake Lorraine, in Sioux Falls.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2019, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to Ascension Lutheran Church in her name.
Iona Mae Ellenwood was born in Canby, Minnesota, Sept. 4, 1923, the only child of Jack and Alma Ellenwood. Iona Mae attended Canby Schools and was named the Canby Homecoming Queen in 1940. Due to the Veterans Day snowstorm of 1940, her crowning took place at a school assembly later that school year.
After graduation, Iona Mae worked as a secretary for the superintendent of Canby Public Schools. She married Roger Berger on September 19, 1948 ,after his service in WWII and his college graduation. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in September 2018.
They briefly lived in Sioux Falls, Clear Lake, and Bruce, South Dakota before settling in Brookings in 1957.
They lived in Brookings in the home they built until 2017 when they moved to Sioux Falls to be closer to family.
Iona Mae enjoyed ceramics class, antiquing, garage sales, attending SDSU basketball games and loved her flower garden. She was involved in Bridge club, Bible study group, and volunteered at many church functions.
They enjoyed traveling with business associates, friends, and family, and cherished family time at their cabin at Lake Poinsett.
Her greatest joy was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They wintered in Arizona for many years. She will be remembered for her baking and cooking (especially her family’s secret cinnamon roll recipe).
Iona Mae is survived by her husband, Roger Berger of Sioux Falls; her children, Bruce Berger, of Sioux Falls, Laurie (Dan) Boyer of Ralston, NE and Susan (Larry) Hamre of Sioux Falls; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Mike) Orfitelli, Corey Boyer (Nicole Schroeder), Megan (Andrew) Blackburne, Sarah (Adam) Sheppard, Aubrey (Jacob) Windish, Kylie, Emily and Kelsey Berger and two great grandchildren, Mia and Sophia Orfitelli.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
