Irene Vennie

Irene Vennie, 91 year old resident of Little Falls, MN, died Sunday, December 22 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living Center. A funeral service will be held Saturday, December 28 at 12:00 P.M. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN with Pastor Nate Bjorge officiating. A visitation will be held from 10:30 A.M. until the hour of service on Saturday at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service.

Irene E. Vennie was born February 4, 1922 in Mercer, North Dakota to the late Peter and Gurina (Sundlie) Bergan.She graduated from high school in McCloskey, North Dakota with the class of 1940. After completing her schooling, Irene and Ethel Peterson, a classmate of Irenes, moved to California.Irene worked as a Rosie the Riveter in California.She met her husband, Duane there and the couple was married in 1945 in Burbank, CA. The couple moved to Minneapolis, MN where Irene worked in the laundry department at the Augustana Nursing Home in Minneapolis, MN for several years.Irene and Duane later divorced.Irene continued to care for the couples four children, Maureen, DeWayne, Denny and Vaughn. She moved to Little Falls, MN in 2009, where she resided at the time of her death.Irene enjoyed reading, listening to music, tending to her house plants, watching the Lawrence Welk show, attending church and her family will remember her for her wonderful breads and rolls during the holiday season. She was an avid supporter of the Billy Graham and Robert Schuller Ministries. She was an avid walker and was a member of the Walking Club in Minneapolis.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Maureen (Dennis) Kukowski of Little Falls, MN, DeWayne (Donna) Vennie of Grand Rapids, MN, Denny Vennie of Eagan, MN, Vaughn (Holly) Vennie of Gonzales, LA; grandchildren, Jason (Dani) Vennie, Erica (Tony) Curella, Britt (Matt) Stanton, Aaron Vennie, Cheri (Tony) Rudolph, Kristy Vennie, Sarah (Dan) Schilling, Jonathan (Doriana) Vennie, Jennifer (Scott) Bratcher, Carrie and (Jonathan) Kennard and Ricky Vennie and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Gurina Bergan; brothers, Terrance, Kenneth and Alvin Bergan; sisters, May Singer, Pearl Shol and a half-sister, Ruth Sundberg.

Irenes family would like to give a special mention to the staff of Diamond Willow for the exceptional care given to Irene.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred for the Alzheimers Association at:
National Office: 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17
Chicago, IL 60601-7633