Joan Berdal

Joan Renae Berdal, Colfax resident, passed away Wednesday, September 26, 2018, after a long courageous battle with cancer. She was 61.

Joan was born March 24, 1957, in McVille, North Dakota, to Gerald and Loy (Stein) Stutrud. Joan was the middle child right between two brothers and two sisters. She grew up in McVille and was active in her high school. She liked to play in the band and sing in the choir. She also attended the Lutheran youth group and was a teacher of Sunday school. Joan was the editor of her high school annual for two years before graduating with the class of 1975. She attended University of North Dakota for one year and went to business school where she completed her Associate's Degree in Bookkeeping/Accounting. She worked at a Fargo area clinic pharmacy in billing and bookkeeping.

Joan met James Berdal and they married in McVille on August 4, 1984. They made their home in West Fargo and started their family there, welcoming daughters Becki and Shauna. In 1990, they moved to Colfax, Washington, and Joan worked in the hospital billing department. A third daughter, Alex, joined the young family and their home on Thorn Street was a busy, happy place.

Joan was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church and taught Sunday school classes there as well. She served as Women's Synod secretary and sang in the choir. She worked at Pioneer Title in Colfax and in 1998, Jim and Joan purchased the Lube Plus Automotive Shop on Main Street in Colfax. Joan helped run the business by keeping the books. She continued to work in clinics in Colfax and Moscow and later transferred to a bookkeeping position at the Whitman Health & Rehab Nursing Center in Colfax. Joan had worked in Human Resources for the Whitman County Courthouse since 2014.

She loved reading and doing cross-stitch. Joan was also a proud member of the Legion Auxiliary. Her most treasured moments were the times spent with family. She always liked to follow her girls in their activities and especially enjoyed watching them grow during their teen years from 15-19 years of age. When the grandchildren started to arrive she was always eager to spoil them and spend time with them.

Joan will be missed by many in the community, but especially by her husband, Jim, at their home; her three daughters, Rebecca "Becki" Berdal of Spokane, Shauna (Scott) Phillips, Moses Lake, Wash., and Alexandra "Alex" (Joseph) McLaughlin of Crosby, Minn .; three grandchildren, Maximus, Sydney and Lincoln Phillips; by her mom and dad, Gerald and Loy Stutrud of McVille, N.D .; her siblings, Loren Stutrud of Grand Forks, N.D., Gayle (Rick) Haabak of McVille, and Allen (Sharon) Stutrud, McVille, and Laura Cory also of Grand Forks.

A celebration of life for Joan was held on Wednesday, October 3rd, at 2:00 pm, at Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax and the family will celebrate again at a service in the McVille Lutheran Church, McVille, North Dakota, on Sunday, October 7th, at 2:00 pm. Joan's family would especially like to thank the staff at The Courtyard in Colfax for the wonderful, tender loving care that Joan received over the last few months. They would also appreciate memorial contributions to Kindred Hospice, Pullman, the Shriner's Hospital, Spokane Campus, or to the McVille Legion Auxiliary. On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.