Claribel Marie Berghorst

Claribel Marie (Iverson) Berghorst was born December 11, 1928, to Martin Edwin "Ed" & Gunda Marie (Hauglie) Iverson in Stanley, ND. At 95 years old, Claribel lived a full and wonderful life, passing away of natural causes on Saturday, June 8, 2024. A service to celebrate Claribel will be June 24, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka, MN at 11 a.m. with a visitation beforehand at 10 a.m.

Claribel and her parents moved often while she was growing up. They lived in Williston, ND until she was a freshman in high school. During WWII, they moved to Helena, MT, living at the Fort Wm Henry Harrison Army Camp & VA Hospital grounds where her dad worked. The day after her high school graduation ceremony (May,1946), the family moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Claribel had no siblings, yet, she made many friends in each location where she lived.

She attended Augustana College (University) and went on to graduate from Sioux Valley School of Nursing in 1950. She met her future husband, Kenneth, while working at the Sioux Falls hospital when he visited his sister, Kathleen, after her appendix surgery. Claribel and Kenneth were married on June 16, 1951, and moved to St. Paul, MN; then to Anoka, MN where they raised their four children.

After marriage, Claribel continued nursing-working first at Midway Hospital in St Paul (1951-52), then the Anoka State Hospital (1952-55), then part-time from 1957-1961 at blood drives, and immunization clinics at area schools through 1992. Between the births of their first two children, she was also in the Anoka American Legion Women's Auxiliary and served as Unit President in 1955-56. In 1984, she served as State President of the Ladies Auxiliary and attended many state and national conventions. She was a card-playing member in Bridge Clubs and 500 Clubs, and a member of the Zion Lutheran Church Mission Circle.

She and Ken had the pleasure of traveling within and outside of the United States-alone, with friends, and with family. Some of her favorite trips were a cruise to Alaska and their trip to the Fiji Islands. For 20 years, they were snowbirds traveling to Mesa, AZ through the winter. They made many camping trips-belonging to the RV Pioneer Club in MN and the Carriage Manor Vagabonds in AZ. Claribel enjoyed watching sports and old movies; reading; keeping up with the news and current events; sewing; and one of her favorite things was getting together to play cards. She loved spending time with friends and family and hearing about new things in their lives.

Claribel is survived by her four children: Wendy Berghorst of River Falls, WI; Nancy (Dennis) Brandt of Bonne Terre, MO; Judy (Brian) Reutiman of Highland, IL; Bruce (Cindy) Berghorst of Albany, MN; Grandchildren Michael Chalin, Joe (Devon) Reagan, Allie (Robert) Zobrist, Andy (HaLey) Reutiman, and Zach Berghorst; 7 great-grandchildren; and family friend, Erin Zimmerman. She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth and her parents.

She will be forever missed and never forgotten.

We'd like to thank the people at Health Partners Hospice Care, Care Plus HHA, and Amira Choice Champlin for helping Claribel and her family in her final days. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, MN.