Joanne Ilaug, of Montevideo, died on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at her home at the age of 85.Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. at Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo with Pastor John Runyan officiating. Interment will be in Terrace Lawn Memorial Gardens in rural Montevideo. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.
Johanna “Joanne” (Berends) Ilaug was born on December 3, 1926 in Lone Tree Township of Chippewa County, MN to Philip and Elizabeth (Tebben) Berends. She was baptized in 1927 and confirmed in 1941 at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City and attended Clara City Public Schools. On May 20, 1945, she was united in marriage to Walter Benson in Clara City, MN. To this union were born five daughters. They farmed by Maynard and Clara City. In 1969, following Walter’s death in 1966, they moved to Montevideo. On January 2, 1974 she was united in marriage to Fred Ilaug, who died in 1998. She worked at Control Data, did cleaning at Brookside Manor and was a sales representative for Electrolux for over thirty years, and was nationally recognized. She was a member of Hope Reformed Church, where she was active in Guild, Kid’s Club and Bible Study, and had been a 4-H leader. She enjoyed sewing, traveling and especially time with her family
She is survived by five daughters: Carol Hauer of Victoria, MN, Linda (and George) Johnson of Mission, TX, Diane (and Brad) Weberg of San Antonio, TX, Bonnie (and Kim) Sather of Faribault, MN and Shirlee (and Keith) Gruber of Loretto, MN; step-children: Jeff Ilaug of Montevideo, Brent (and Jill) Ilaug of Nowthen, MN, Keith (and Melissa) Ilaug of Eagan, MN, Lisa Cameron of Zimmerman, MN and their families; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; a brother, Mike (and Carol) Berends of Maynard, MN; sisters: Cora Steffens of Wadena, MN, Elaine (and Daryl) Weiss of Echo, MN and Betty Erickson of Hanover, MN; a sister-in law, Marlene Berends of Montevideo, MN, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands: Walter Benson in 1966 and Fred Ilaug in1998; a grandson, Judd Johnson; a brother, Martin Berends; and by sisters, Phyllis Berends and Ann Peterson.