Freda Berndt

BLUE EARTH February 20, 2005Freda D. Berndt Freda Dorothy Berndt, age 91, of Blue Earth, died February 20, 2005, at St. Lukes Lutheran Care Center, Blue Earth. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 25, 2005, at 11:00a.m., at St. Lukes Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, with Rev. Gary Terrio officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth. Visitation time will be one hour prior to services at St. Lukes Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth on Friday.. Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 400 E. 14th Street, in Blue Earth in charge of arrangements. Freda was born September 23, 1913, at Blue Earth Mn., the daughter of Julius & Rose(Lehmann)Mittelstadt. She graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1931 and completed the Teacher Training requirements a year later. For the next four years she taught in a rural school near Winnebago. On June 19, 1936 she married Maurice A. Berndt at Blue Earth. They had one daughter, Mary. Freda and Maurice shared 66 years together before his death in 2002. Throughout her life, Freda was an active member of Salem United Methodist(formerly EUB)Church. She sang in the choir, took leadership roles in the women''s groups, and served as church historian for over forty years. She also shared her faith by teaching Sunday School and release time classes for children, and by leading the United Methodist Women''s Circle Lessons and Bible studies. Freda''s interests included cooking, baking, needlecrafts, and reading. In 1946 Freda and her friends organized the Book Club. This group of twelve ladies met monthly for a book review and discussion. While there were change in the membership over the years, Freda continued with the group until it ended in 1999. Her familiarity with books led to her working in the Blue Earth Library in the 1970''s. She is survived by her Daughter: Mary Mensheha, Golden Valley, MN, Grandsons: Mark of Charlotte, NC & Paul of Chicago, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters(Marie & Pearl), and two Brothers(Fred & Ralph). Memorials may be directed to St. Lukes Lutheran Care Center.