Peggy Bredvold

Alma Hulda “Peggy” Bredvold was born on April 4, 1921 to Ferdinand and Katherine (Meins) Pabst. The fifth of eleven children, Peggy grew up on the family farm in rural Sanborn. She attended the country school until the age of 14, when she went to work on the nearby farm of John and Mary Brown, earning a dollar each week to help her family. Peggy married Bill Arndt in 1943, and welcomed a daughter, Carol, soon after. Peggy and Bill later divorced. Peggy met Ewald Stern at a dance in Sanborn, and the two were married in 1948 (because he “just wouldn’t let go” according to Peggy). They welcomed sons Ed and Lee, and enjoyed 15 happy years together until Ewald’s death in 1963. To support her family after losing Ewald, Peggy was a cook at the Rainbow Cafe, perfecting a lemon meringue pie that is unparalleled to this day. Peggy met Ray Bredvold at the bowling alley in Springfield, and the two were married in 1966. Ray and Peggy enjoyed their life together until Ray’s death in 1995.

Everyone who had the good fortune to know Peggy found themselves on the receiving end of her kindness, generosity, and endless enthusiasm. Never one to sit idle, she loved spending time with friends and neighbors, attending church, doing yardwork, watching the fields grow in the summer, going to Jackpot, and was the best darn pen pal any of her grandkids and great grandkids will ever have. Peggy will be remembered for her bright smile, her genuine care for everyone she met, and the trail of sparkles she left behind her wherever she went.

Peggy is survived by her daughter Carol (Norbert) Evers, son Edward (Deborah) Stern, daughter-in-law Sharon Stern, grandchildren Becky (Scott) Gerdes, Jenny (Mark) Walser, Brian Evers, Katie (Donald) Freidig, Heidi (Jeff) Miller, Brigette (Jack) Rol, Gretel Stern, Meta (Jon) Olson, Michael (Sheila) Stern, and Katherine (Vince) Glass, as well as 20 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many other cherished family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Ewald Stern and Ray Bredvold, son Lee Stern, grandson Cole Stern, sisters Marie Essig, Emily Brown, Lorraine Polzin, Gertrude Wall, Hilda Weicherding and Ruth Kronback, and brothers Carl, Emil, Albert and Johny Pabst.