Lillian V. Berry, age 99, of Gladstone and formerly of Oak Park, Illinois, passed away on Friday, March 14th, 2008 at the Bishop Noa Home in Escanaba.  

Lillian was born in Gladstone on October 27th, 1908, the daughter of Peter and Lena Peterson  who were both of Swedish ancestry.  Lillian is the last of 12 children to that union.

Following high school, Lillian attended “Cloverland Business College” in Escanaba and later relocated to the Chicago area in 1930 where she was employed in office work and as a book-keeper for a period of time. While in Chicago, Lillian met Marvin K. “Bun” Berry and they were united in marriage in 1948. After “Bun” died in 1979, Lillian permanently returned to Gladstone.

Lillian Berry was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Gladstone and its’ Grace Circle. She was also a long-time member of the Childs’ Welfare Organization and reading was one of her favorite past-times. Lillian is fondly remembered by family and friends as being a very social individual with an excellent sense of humor.                  

Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews. Special nieces and nephews who lovingly cared for her are Owen (Sue) Peterson, Jack (Sally) Hillman, and Ruth and Carolyn Johnson, all of Gladstone.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Lillian was preceded in death by four brothers;
Herbert, Gilbert, and Elwood and Harold Peterson and by four sisters; Hazel Bloomquist, Ruth Hillman, Eleanor Johnson, and Esther Bloomquist. She was also preceded by infant sisters, Ruth and Irene Peterson and an infant brother, Arthur Peterson On September 5th, 2007, Lillian was preceded in death by a special niece, Sue Peterson, of Gladstone.

The family of Lillian Berry will receive friends on Tuesday at the First Lutheran Church 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Services celebrating her life will follow on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church with Rev. Jonathan Schmidt officiating. Following services, luncheon will be served at the church fellowship hall. Burial will be in the Fernwood Cemetery. The family respectfully request memorials in Lillian’s behalf be directed to the First Lutheran Church for various ongoing church projects. Envelopes will be available at the church and at the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Homes of Delta County who are assisting the Berry family.