June Olivia Behrens

1947 - 2016

June Olivia Behrens

Denison

June Olivia Behrens was born at Carroll, Iowa, March 23, 1947, the daughter of Cecil and Evangeline (Klocke) Cox. She was raised on the farm near Dedham and received her education at St. Joseph Catholic School in Dedham and Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll. On February 6, 1965, June was united in marriage with Jerry Behrens at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dedham, Iowa. Their union was blessed with five children: Dan, Christy, Jeff, Brad and Amy. For 23 years they made their home on the farm at Kiron, Iowa, moving to Denison in 1993 where she had since resided. June spent her married life as a homemaker, lovingly caring for her family. She and Jerry were blessed to have celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2015.

June found great joy in caring for her family and attending her children's and grandchildren's many activities, and she was their biggest cheerleader. She was very proud of all of her family's accomplishments, and loved to share that with her friends. In her leisure time she enjoyed crafts, quilting, gardening, and took pride in tending the flowers surrounding their home. She also loved to travel south in the winter, spending time with friends and family. As a mother, she had the perfect mix of discipline and love. The joyful smile on her face when she interacted with her grandchildren will be missed, but the impact she made on them will be remembered forever. The love she fostered among her children and grandchildren will live on as her legacy.

She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, St. Rose of Lima Ladies Guild, volunteered for various community events, and was a Master Gardener.

June passed away surrounded by her loving family late Friday, July 8, 2016, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At the time of her death she had been blessed with 69 years, 3 months and 15 days.

June was preceded in death by her parents Cecil and Evangeline Cox.

Those remaining to cherish her memory include her husband Jerry Behrens, Denison, Iowa, five children and their spouses: Dan and Karen Behrens of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Christy and Nick Vahanian of Polk City, Iowa, Jeff and Teresa Behrens of Flandreau, South Dakota, Brad and Sarah Behrens of Johnston, Iowa, and Amy and Brian Bell of Altoona, Iowa. Also surviving are fifteen grandchildren who were the light of her life: Greg (Lindsey), Drew, and Jessica Behrens; Harrison and Sam Vahanian; Nic, Erica, Brooklyn, and Luke Behrens; Evan, Pierce, and Reed Behrens; Amanda (Dave) Webb, Josh (Haylee) Bell, and Ashley (Isaac) Poolman; one great grandson, Jaxon Bell; three brothers and their spouses: Allen and Patty Cox of Harlan, Iowa, Jeff and Shirley Cox of Liberal, Kansas, and Richard and Colleen Cox of Omaha, Nebraska; two sisters and their spouses: Loryce and Mike Patterson of Omaha, Nebraska, and Peg and Gary Larson of Winterset, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 1012 2nd Avenue South, Denison on Monday, July 11 from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM, with a Parish Vigil Service commencing at 8:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 12, at 10:30 AM at St. Rose with burial following at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Denison.

The family invites everyone to lunch at Boulders Conference Center, 2505 Boulder Drive, Denison following the interment.

Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com in Denison is handling the arrangements.