Donald Berney Passes at Age 82
Donald R. Berney, 82, of Wolbach, died on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Brookefield Park in St. Paul. Services were held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolbach. The Reverend Glenda Pearson officiated. Anna Sake served as the soloist, singing, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Hymn of Promise”. Marilyn Paulman served as the organist. Recorded selections included “Gone Fishin’” by Tom T. Hall. Burial was in the Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach. Active casket bearers included Charlie Berney, Brent Donscheski, Chandler Donscheski, Connor Donscheski, Mike Thompson, and Joey Lane. Honorary bearers were Brianna Berney, Reilly Donscheski, Ashlyn Donscheski, Jack Lane, Joe Lane, AB Villanueva, Atreyu Villanueva, Kennedy Thompson, Rachel Thompson, Charlie Wagner, Mitch Wagner, Cordel Wagner, Bud Vopat, Richard Cordes, Steve Clark, and Ted Rother.
Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul assisted the family.
Donald Ray Berney was born on July 6, 1940, at Wolbach, the son of Loyal “Charlie” and Irene (Galitz) Berney. He grew up in Wolbach, where he received his education.
He worked for Pat and Alice James at Wolbach Produce and, later, worked on a ranch in Valentine for a year. He then returned to Wolbach and worked at Farmer’s Union Co-op in Wolbach, and then for Aurora Co-op in St. Paul and Dannebrog. He was united in marriage to Joyce A. Petersen on July 14, 1961 in Grand Island. The couple were blessed with three children: Kirby, Donnie, and Kristi. Donald is survived by his wife, Joyce Berney of Wolbach; children, Donnie and wife, Sally Berney of Palmer and Kristi Berney of Kearney; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Brianna Berney and AB Villanueva and son, Atreyu of Rapid City, South Dakota, Charlie Berney of Palmer, Veronica and Joe Lane and sons, Joey and Jack of Palmer, Tab and Brent Donscheski and Chandler, Connor, Reilly, and Ashlyn of Palmer, Marissa and Mike Thompson and Rachel and Kennedy of Palmer; sisters, Loyla and Ron Vogel of Davis, California, and Kathy and Chuck Houtby of Wolbach; brother-inlaw, Richard Cordes of Hooper, and sister-in-law, LaVon Berney of Hastings; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Alvie and Fern Petersen; son, Kirby R. Berney; brother, Galen Berney; and sister, Virgie Cordes.