Jean Marie Youngberg

Funeral services for Jean Youngberg, age 74, of Milaca, will be held Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 11 AM at Milaca Evangelical Free Church. Interment will follow at Borgholm Cemetery near Bock. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Memorials are preferred to Mille Lacs County DAC or Milaca Elim Home. Jean Marie Youngberg was born May 30, 1941 to Clifford and Elnora Youngberg in St. Cloud, MN. She grew up at the family home near Bock and Jean attended school there for the early years of her education. In 1949, at the age of eight, Jean became critically ill with spinal meningitis, and was left with many physical and mental health concerns. She moved with her family to a farm in Borgholm Township and continued her education at the Burnhelm country school through the 8th grade. Jean graduated from Milaca High School in 1959. Following high school, Jean had some difficult years and was hospitalized in Moose Lake in 1967. At their recommendation, Jean began volunteering in the kitchen of the Milaca Elim Home and a life long relationship began there. Over the next four decades, besides spending time at Elim, Jean became involved at the area DAC’s, first at Mora, then Milaca and finally Princeton until 2013. She enjoyed the physical and mental stimulus of the DAC programs. In 1995, with the decline of her mother’s health and with her mother’s foresight and planning, Jean moved into the foster home of Dan and Kathie Peterson. She spent the next 18 years in a wonderful family setting with Dan and Kathie, and affectionately referred to them as Mom and Dad. In December 2013, after several falls and mobility becoming an issue, Jean returned to the familiar setting of Milaca Elim Home as a resident. Although she was unable to walk, Jean was always on the go, moving her wheelchair to any and all activities. Bingo nights and chapel times were her favorites. Jean had a strong Christian faith and accepted Christ as her savior in her youth. Jean transcended to her heavenly home on February 15, 2016, leaving behind family and friends who had been touched by her life. Jean is survived by her brothers, Jerry (Cadence) of Grand Forks, ND and John (Jackie) of Milaca; eight nieces and nephews, Moana Carter, Marna Wiggen, Terry Anderson, Kristi Storey, Becky Lease, Cliff Youngberg, Karla Youngberg and Matt Youngberg; also by many other relatives and many, many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford in 1959 and Elnora in 2001 and grandparents, Henry and Jessie Wessman and Fred and Selma Youngberg.