Bernice Louise Balbach

Bernice Louise Balbach was born August 4, 1922 to George and Ella (Tews) Buhr at the family farm in Stately Township, Brown County, MN. She attended country school through 8th grade and then helped friends and family with a variety of jobs. She met and married Lynn Bud Balbach on February 17, 1947 at Christ Lutheran Church. The couple farmed northeast of Springfield living on the same farm for 59 years. In 2007 they moved into Springfield. In 2014, Bernie became a resident of the St. John Circle of Care. Bernie was involved with the Birthday Pinochle Club, bridge, extension club, St. John Lutheran Home Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Hospital Auxiliary. She was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where she helped with bible school, Altar Guild, funeral committee, and quilting group, attended bible study, and served in the Rebekah Circle and WELCA. Bernie enjoyed gardening and flowers, crafts, traveling, baking especially poppy seed cake and lemon and apple pie, and playing cards. Time with her family was very special and she enjoyed playing games with them. Bernie died on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at St. John Circle of Care in Springfield at the age of 96. She is survived by daughter - Barbara and husband Barry Johnson of Red Wing, MN; granddaughters - Traci and husband Jeff Sonju of Red Wing, Nicole and husband Jason Burow of Red Wing, and Kriste and husband Nate Cheeley of St. Michael; and great grandchildren - Madeline, Jake, Kate, Emily, Lillie, Brody, Ella, and Bryn. Bernie was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bud Balbach in 2011; sisters - Irene Krueger and Marge Gatzlaff; brother Leroy Buhr; brothers-in-law - Wilbert Krueger, Loren Gatzlaff, Percy Balbach, Ward Balbach, and Butch Schenk; and sisters-in-law - Erna Balbach, Melvine Balbach, and Dorothy Schenk. In lieu of flowers, family prefers memorials to St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. John Circle of Care, or Redwood Area Hospice. Visitation 1 9:30 am - 11:00 am Saturday, March 30, 2019 St. Paul Lutheran Church 303 North Cass Ave. Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087 Service Information 11:00 am Saturday, March 30, 2019 St. Paul Lutheran Church 303 North Cass Ave. Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087 Interment Information Springfield City Cemetery Co. Rd 24 Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087