Randall Berkner

Randall John Berkner, 89, of Sleepy Eye, MN died Tuesday, September 2, at the Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye. Randall (Randy) was born on March 5,1925 in Osakis, MN to Harold and Catherine (Huiras) Berkner. As a small child, the family moved to Sleepy Eye where his father started a family farm. He attended St. Mary's Catholic Schools graduating in 1943. Randy enlisted in the United States Army on March 6, 1945, serving in the Pacific Theater. On October 11, 1950, he was united in marriage to Delores (Dolly) Goldschmidt at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. He began working as a mechanic at Del Monte Corporation until he moved onto and bought a family farm. Along with being a grain farmer, he also raised a variety of livestock, focusing mainly on hogs. He retired from farming in 1987. Randy and Dolly spent many summers at their cabin on Potato Lake in Park Rapids, MN. He truly enjoyed fishing and family time around the campfire. In his retirement years he took up golf and was always eager to challenge his sons in a round of golf. He was a quiet, gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor. When he lost Dolly in 1999, he took on many of Dolly's talents of cooking and gardening. Most of all, his greatest joy was the company of his family. Randy is survived by his six children: Allan (Bonnie) Streamwood, IL, Renae (Neil) Bock, Park Rapids, Dale (Dianne), Brandon, SD, Cindy (Charles) Sobocinski, Park Rapids, Patrick (Patty), and Lynn both of Sleepy Eye, eleven grandchildren, four great grandsons, four step grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, and one step great-great grandson, sister, Ramona Ricke of Blue Earth, two step brothers David (Sandy) Runing, White Bear Lake, and Curt Runing, Coggon, IA, several nieces and nephews. Randy is also survived by Dolly's family: brothers-in-law: Gerald (Olive) Hutchinson, Marvin (Bernice) St. James, Milo (Rosie) Lake Lillian and sisters, Carol Jean (Roger) Hengel and Sister Audrey Goldschmidt, both of Sleepy Eye, brothers-in-law, Eddie Jungers, El Centro, CA, and Tom Haas, Camarillo, CA, He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 49 years, Dolly, his parents and step mother Cecilia (Runing), brothers and sisters-in-law, Myron (Pearl) and Richard (Barbara), and sister Barbara (Bernard Bertrand / Linus Grathwohl), brother-in-law Bill Ricke, step sister-in-law Mary Runing and infant sister Rosemary. Also preceding him in death from Dolly's family are her parents, Leo and Elizabeth Goldschmidt, sisters-in-law: Rollie Jungers and Darlene Haas, brother-in-law Jim Goldschmidt, Dolly's infant brother Donald, and her nephew Steve Goldschmidt. Randy was a lifetime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Catholic Order of Foresters, Knights of Columbus, VFW, American Legion, and Fraternal Order of Eagles. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Mary's School or Church or Divine Providence Community Home. First Visitation 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Monday, September 8, 2014 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Second Visitation 7:30 am - 11:00 am Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Service Information 11:30 am Tuesday, September 9, 2014 St. Mary's Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye 636 1st Ave. North Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Interment Information St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery 720 3rd Ave. N.E. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085