Individual Details

Iva Mae Berkeness

(April 3, 1929 - October 22, 2008)

The funeral for Iva Huffman, 79, Groton, was held October 25, at Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton. The Rev. Ken Skorseth officiated. Burial followed in Groton Union Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Iva died October 22, 2008 at Golden Living Center in Groton.

Iva Mae Berkeness was born in Pierpont on April 3, 1929 to Selmer and Esther (Lilnes) Berkeness. She attended grade school in Pierpont and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1947. Iva attended Northern State College where she earned her degree in Pathology. She moved to Denver, Colorado and was employed with the Denver Regional Medical Center. She united in marriage with Orville Huffman on September 19, 1952 in Denver. The couple later returned to South Dakota and made Groton their home. Iva worked at Avera St. Lukes Hospital for 36 years as a hematologist before her retirement.

Iva enjoyed sewing, playing cards, bowling and visiting with friends. In earlier years, she raised a large garden and did a lot of canning. Iva loved crossword puzzles and other puzzles. She was always more concerned about others than herself.

Grateful for having shared in her life is her husband, Orville of Groton, seven children; Michael Huffman of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, Susan (Mark) Davis of Demopolis, Alabama, Douglas Huffman of LasVegas, Nevada, Katherine Rusche of Moorhead, Minnesota, Pamela (Alan) Gordon of Moorhead, Minnesota, Laura (Ken) Dean of Aberdeen, Mark (Beverly) Huffman of LasVegas, Nevada, thirteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Jim (Dorothy) Berkeness of Buffalo, Minnesota, and three sisters; Marge Gillespie of Spokane, Washington, Shirley (Dexter) Meyer of Britton and Audree (Clayton) Jarrott of Sioux Falls.

Preceding her in death were her parents and one sister, Donna Schaible.

Events

BirthApril 3, 1929Pierpont, Day, South Dakota, USA
DeathOctober 22, 2008Groton, Brown Co., SD

Families