Bernice Grinna

Bernice Grinna, age 94, of Decorah, IA, died on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at the Tweeten – Lutheran Health Center in Spring Grove, MN, following a long illness. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa with Rev. Susan Debner officiating. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Wednesday morning. There will be a VFW Auxiliary Memorial Service at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday evening. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Glenwood Lutheran Church or the Tweeten Health Center in Spring Grove, Minn. Bernice Idella (Thorson) Grinna was born on September 21, 1911 the daughter of Alfred & Emma (Hagen) Thorson near Spring Grove, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in her Norwegian Lutheran faith at the Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church. At the age of seven her mother died and Bernice was raised by her Uncle Mike’s family. She attended school at Bunge School in Wilmington Township. While Bernice was working for George and Annie Frye on a farm north of Decorah, Iowa, she met Erick Mervin Julian Grinna. She traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, by train to marry Julian, on Feb. 19, 1943, when he was in the Army. They had 2 children, Thomas Erick and Betty Jean." Bernice was a housewife, but worked for several years at Wapsie Produce. Bernice was a member of the Glenwood Lutheran Church and was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed baking, crocheting and doing whatever she could for her family and friends. Bernice’s survivors include one son, Thomas Grinna & wife, Cheryl of Redmond, WA; One daughter, Betty Hutchinson & husband, Richard of Aurora, CO. Three granddaughters: Ericka Grinna of Los Gatos, CA; Tracy Grinna of Kirkland, WA and Korrin Seavey and husband, Matt of Atco, NJ. One Great Granddaughter: Hadley Seavey of Atco, NJ. One brother: Arnold Thorson, Spring Grove, MN; One brother-in-law: Alden Grinna and wife Esther, Decorah, IA. Three sisters-in-law: Stella Grinna, Decorah, IA; Olive Grinna, Waukon, IA and Thelma Thorson, of Decorah, IA, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Julian Grinna; One brother: Ernest Thorson and one sister: Gladys Duxbury; Three brothers-in-law: Grant, Vernon and Marlin Grinna; two sisters-in-law: Helen Ruen & Vivian Grinna.