John Berres Obituary

Funeral Services for John M. Berres of rural Alberta will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Morris Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Hector Franco officiating. Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 13th at Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and will continue on Monday at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Drywood Lutheran Cemetery rural Appleton.

John Michael Berres was born on February 27, 1948, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Robert and Alice (Domeier) Berres. He grew up in Edina and graduated from Benilde High School. He continued his education at St. Cloud State before enlisting in the United States Army in 1968, honorably and proudly serving his country in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

John married Kathryn Brustuen on June 22, 1974. The couple lived in Hopkins, St. Louis Park and Maple Grove before moving to the farmstead, which they never tired being in awe of, near Alberta, MN in 1988.

John worked for a number of businesses including Northern Cargo in Minneapolis, West Central MN Communities Action in Elbow Lake, Bennett Zierke, Gary Koosman and Zierke Farms from which he retired.

He was a faithful member of the Morris Evangelical Free Church, the Morris American Legion and the Morris VFW.

John enjoyed hunting with his sons and nephews, coaching little league baseball, ice skating (he made an ice rink in the yard each winter - which his children, nieces and nephews all enjoyed), participating in community plays, and he loved rooting for his Minnesota Vikings and Twins. He also found great joy working on the farmstead buildings and gardens, traveling to various states and countries, camping with family, and especially enjoyed spending any kind of time with his beloved wife, children, and grandchildren. He also treasured the years he was given living close to his beloved mother-in-law Cleone and being able to care for her.

John Berres was ushered into the presence of Jesus on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at Sanford Health Hospital in Fargo. He left with incredible peace and excitement and poured out blessing on his family and friends with his final breaths. He was 77 years old.

Survivors include his wife, Kathryn of Alberta; children, Michael (Hayley) Berres of Beaverton, OR, Elizabeth (Christopher) Hardesty of Eden Prairie and David (Sarah) Berres of Delano; grandchildren, Micah, Gabrielle and Mackenzie Berres; Ethan, Grayson and Adelyn Hardesty and Brantley and Joie Berres; brother, Robert J. (Judi) Berres, Jr. of Phoenix, AZ; sisters, Mary (Skip) Mills of Omaha, NE and Margaret (Tom) Asby of Spring Park, MN; sister-in-law, Deb Berres of Rosemount, MN; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Barbara (Bob) Beck, Eldon (Sharon) Brustuen, Melody (Rodger) Veenendaal, Kevin (Gretchen) Brustuen, Keith (Sheila) Brustuen and Emilie Brustuen and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Alice; sisters, Ann and Elizabeth Berres and brothers, Tom and Jimmy Berres and also preceded in death by his in-laws Nils and Cleone Brustuen.

MEMORIALS ARE PREFERED TO THE MORRIS EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH.