December 13, 1931 – Monday, January 16, 2017

Service Information
Zion Lutheran Church, Buffalo, MN
Friday, January 20, 2017
11:00 AM

Visitation Information
Zion Lutheran Church, Buffalo, MN
Friday, January 20, 2017
9:30 – 11:00 AM

James E. Berkenes

Age 85, of Buffalo, MN, passed away peacefully on January 16th, 2017 after struggling with multiple health issues over the past ten years. James was born December 13th, 1931 in Pierpont, SD and graduated from Roslyn High School in 1950. He served in the Armed Forces from 1953 to 1957. During his military service he was deployed overseas as part of the Korean War. James and Dorothy were united in marriage June 16th, 1957 in Long Beach, CA. James attended Cal Poly College in Pomona, CA, Long Beach City College, and Brown Institute in Minneapolis, MN. In 1962 he moved to Minnesota with his family and took up farming in 1969.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Selmer and Esther; siblings Donna Schaible, Marjorie Gillespie, Iva Huffman, and Shirley Meyers.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Olson) Berkenes, sons; Robert (Diane) and Douglas (Brenda), grandchildren; Chad, Amanda, Heather, and Alicia, great-grandchildren; Conner, Aurora, Nolan, and Caleb and sibling; Audrey Jarrott of Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM, visitation starting at 9:30 AM, Friday, January 20th, at Zion Lutheran Church, 1200 MN-25, Buffalo, MN 55313. Interment with military rites will follow at Zion Cemetery in Buffalo.

Serving the family is The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. 763-682-1363. www.thepetersonchapel.com.