Irene Johanna Blegen

Irene Johanna Blegen crossed over Jordan to be with her Lord and her loved ones on Thursday, September 20, 2018. Visitation will be Monday, September 24, 2018 from 4-6 PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark, SD and one hour prior to services at the church. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at 10:30 AM at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Clark, SD with Reverend Mindy Ehrke officiating. Dorothy Fuller will be the organist. Special music will be presented by Sarah Stevens.  Casket bearers will be Kenneth Blegen, David Blegen,  Leslie Chamberlin, Michael Warne, Jeffrey Stevens, and Heather Malchow.  The honorary bearers will be the remaining grandchildren and great grandchildren. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Clark, SD.

Irene Johanna Blegen was born in rural Vienna, South Dakota on November 24, 1913, the eldest of 13 children to Agnes Jorgensen Brenden and Olaf Brenden.

Irene attended school at Pleasant Township and was a member of Pleasant Lutheran Church. Growing up, the church was the center of her social life. Irene learned the meaning of hard work at a very early age as she and her sister, Myrtle, helped raise their younger brothers and sisters. Born Norwegian and raised Lutheran instilled many solid and honorable values in Irene which she carried throughout her entire life. Irene was a wonderful cook and passed on her Norwegian baking traditions to her daughters and grandchildren. Lefse baking became an annual event for many years for Mom and Daughters.

In 1935, Irene married E. Victor Blegen. Irene and Vic lived in Vienna, SD and Eau Claire, WI before they moved to Clark, SD in 1940. Clark was their home together until Vic passed away in 1963. Irene later moved to Mesa, AZ in 1974 after working at the Clark Nursing Home for 10 years.

Irene and Vic had five children: Jerry Duane, Marlene Joyce, Donna Jean, Sharon LaVonne and Bette Ann.

Left to cherish the memory of this "true woman of grit" and blessed to have shared her life are daughters Donna O'Neill, Sun Lakes, AZ; Sharon (Gordon) Carpenter, Mesa, AZ; and Bette (Dan) Stevens, Sioux Falls, SD. Irene is also survived by grandchildren Theresa Blegen, Kenneth Blegen, David Blegen, Lynn Johnson, Shelly Hays, Leslie Chamberlin, Michael Warne, Jeffrey Stevens and Heather Malchow; 23 great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren; sister Alyce Mae Siebrands of Sioux Falls, SD; and brothers Merle (Anna Marie) Brenden, Sioux Falls, SD and Lloyd (Dorothy) Brenden, Mesa, AZ.

Preceding Irene in death were her parents Olaf and Agnes Brenden; her husband Victor; daughter Marlene who died in infancy; son Jerry; brothers Orlin, Elwood, Marvin, Leo, Arlo and Pete; sisters Myrtle Dede and Gladys Zimprich; sisters-in-law Nadine, Violet, Norma and Edith; brothers-in-law Les Dede and Matt Siebrands; daughter-in-law Anise Blegen; son-in-law Jim O'Neill and grandson Jerry "Buck" Blegen. Memorials should be directed to the Good Shepherd Assisted Living Center at 5848 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ.  85209 in her memory. The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com