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Alice Birkeland

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Alice Birkeland
Alice Birkeland, 85, Luverne, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, at Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.
A funeral service was Monday, Nov. 30, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne with burial at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Alice Sternberg was born Sept. 9, 1930, to Frederick and Alvina (Bauman) Sternberg in Western Township, Ottertail County. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ottertail County and attended country school in Ottertail and Wilkin counties. She graduated rom Campbell High School, Campbell, in 1948 and attended college in Fargo, North Dakota, East Grand Forks, Mayville, North Dakota, and Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She taught in rural schools in North Dakota and Minnesota and was later a substitute teacher in Luverne.
On June 12, 1955, Alice married Thomas Birkeland at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ottertail County. They lived northeast of Luverne at the base of the cliffs at Blue Mounds State Park. Tom died July 21, 2010. Alice continued to live in their home until she moved to Poplar Creek in 2014.
Alice was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. She taught Sunday School, Release School, served as GLCW president and worked on various boards at church. She was also a member of the Luverne Tourist Club. She was an avid furniture refinisher and enjoyed buying and selling antiques.
Alice is survived by four children, Teresa (Duane Hemme) Ziebarth, Lakeville, Melissa Lage, Audubon, Tim (Lisa) Birkeland, Terry (Tori) Birkeland, Prior Lake; six grandchildren, Stephanie and Sam Lage, Erika, Nick, and Isaak Birkeland and Kellie Ziebarth; two brothers, Ed Sternberg, Port Charlotte, Florida; and Walter (Res) Sternberg, Lakeville; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; a son, Todd Birkeland; her parents; three brothers, Herman, Arthur and Frederick Sternberg; and two sisters, Elizabeth Raguse and Eleanor Lade.
Memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church (Building Fund) or Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Arrangements were by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
                             (1203 F)

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