Alvin "Mike" Berends

Alvin “Mike” Berends, age 79, of Maynard passed away at the St. Cloud Hospital on March 26, 2018 in the presence of his loving family. 

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Wang Lutheran Church of rural Maynard with Rev. Bradley Larson officiating.   

Visitation will be held for one hour before the service from 1:00 - 2:00 PM at the church.   

Alvin was born March 25, 1939 in Clara City to Philip and Elizabeth (Tebben) Berends.  He was baptized and confirmed at the Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City.  Mike graduated in 1957 from Maynard High School.  He was a current member of the Wang Lutheran Church.  Alvin served as an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Navy Air Corp in Atsugi, Japan from March of 1957 until he was honorably discharged in January of 1960.

On October 15, 1960 he was united in marriage to Carol Stark at the United Methodist Church of rural Montevideo.  They shared together six children plus one foster son, being foster parents. Alvin farmed until retiring in 2015 when his grandson, Chris took over the farming duties. 

Mike enjoyed helping many kids to help them to find a good place in their lives.  He tried to help anyone in need if it was at all possible.  

He was a member of the V.F.W and Sacred Heart American Legion Post 229, and the Chippewa County N.F.O.  He was also a member of the Minnesota Rodeo Association and served as a director; and a member of the Minnesota Rodeo Association Hall of Fame!  He enjoyed having rodeos and rodeo schools at his own farm.  He was a partner in the “Triple B Rodeo” with sons, Mike and Scott. He liked to attend rodeos, when possible, to watch his kids and grandkids participate; and to attend many of their school sporting events.  

He enjoyed holidays, when the family would all come home and have a big get together. He has many good memories of the times with his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. He also liked watching stock car races, snowmobiling in his younger days and deer hunting until his eye sight failed him.  

Alvin is survived by his wife, Carol, of 57 years and their children: Karla (Steve Moore) Coon of Dawson, Karen (Lawrence) Olson of Missouri, Roxanne (Vernell) Peterson of Sacred Heart, Michael Berends of Maynard, Tami (Tom) Finnes of Andover, Scott (Jill) Berends of Maynard, and Ken (Sharon) Allen of Granite Falls; grandchildren: Chris (Kayla Dambroten) Berends of Maynard, Sara Coon of Colorado, Coni (Brian) Chapman of Montevideo, Kelly (Remi) Martinez of  Montevideo, Samantha Olson of Montevideo, Chad Peterson of North Carolina, Jared Peterson of North Carolina, Nicole Knutson of Sioux Falls, Amber (Sean) Woodbeck of Marshall, Cody (Brandy) Berends of Willmar, Levi Berends Maynard, Laken Berends (Nick Rood) of Renville, Colton Berends of Maynard, Tyler, Tanya and Taylor Finnes of Andover, Casey Berends of Maynard,  and Justin Allen of Granite Falls; great-grandchildren: Buck Berends, Zander Parker, Addy and Khloey Sorenson, Gracie Martinez, Shelby and Skylar Olson, Hunter Grothen, Bella, Noah and Hannah Woodbeck, Austin, Jordan, Reece, Greyson, and Ava Peterson, Blade Rood, and Ryder and Carter Redden; sisters: Cora Steffens, Elaine (Darryl) Weiss, and Elizabeth Erickson; and brothers-in-law: John Docken and Doug (Ann) Stark.

He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law; brother, Martin; sisters: Johanna Ilaug and Ann Peterson; sisters-in-law: Marilyn Hadrath and Rose Docken; nephew, Michael Hadrath; brothers-in-law: Robert Hadrath, Don Peterson, Jerry Erickson and Clarence Steffens; sister-in-law, Marlene Berends; and infant sister, Phyllis Berends.  

Blessed be his memory.