June Thompson DeVries

DeVries, June Thompson 2/11/18 – 9/26/07 Heaven knows, she was the calm presence in the whirlwind of parsonage life, the desperately required stability in a family of preacher and preacher's kids. In public the glory was to God and the credit to the pastor; in private, it was June who made it all work. June Thompson came from Chicago, daughter of Eleanor and Will. Her dad was a tough, opinionated cuss. To Will's great alarm, June was swept away by Harold, an empty pockets ministerial student, who loved her, married her, and held her close for nearly seventy years. Old Will lived to know he'd been wrong, and he was proud of them. June and Harold's three children -- Tom, Susan, & Steve -- owe her deeply for the sacrifice and love it takes, as we now see, to make a house a home. Her family, including eight grandchildren, pays forward what she was and what she did. The grandchildren, now in their turn, have partners and children of their own -- six great-grandchildren and counting -- who build on the life of this good woman. She was 89 when she died this week and no longer strong. It was her time to go home to the Lord, a blessing Harold prayed for in these last few days. Now she is at peace. Still, tears seem inadequate. Her husband, Harold; her children, Tom, Susan and Steve; her grandchildren, Lauren, David, Francisco, Kristina, Will, Ben, Sarah, Alex; her great-grandchildren, Yvonne, Nicole, Richard, JJ, Arthur, Mateo. Memorial service Saturday, 9/29, 10 AM at Friendship Village of Bloomington, 8100 Highwood Drive. The family suggests that any memorial gifts be made to the Employee Appreciation Fund at Friendship Village.
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.