Delphene A. Berkholder 05/23/2016

Delphene A. Berkholder, age 94 of Eau Claire, WI and formerly of New Richmond, WI, died on Monday, May 23, 2016 at Sacred Heart Hospital on Eau Claire, WI. Del was born the daughter of Walter and Minnie (Asp) Johnson on April 15, 1922 in Clear Lake, WI. She was the youngest of five children. She had two brothers and two sisters. She went to a country school (Blackbrook School) built by her father, through the fifth grade. At age 12, her family moved to New Richmond. In 1939, Del was selected as the first Miss New Richmond. She graduated from New Richmond High School with the class of 1940. In 1942 she and her sister Muriel moved to Los Angeles, CA where she worked as a secretary for a defense company. In December 1945 she moved back to New Richmond, WI. On February 20, 1946, Del was married to George Berkholder in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Muriel and Cecil Reineck. They were blessed with four children. George retired in 1981 and they moved to Mesa, AZ for the next 16 years. In 1997 they moved back to Eau Claire, WI due to health issues. She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Minnie Johnson; husband, George Berkholder, Sr.; and siblings, Walter Johnson, Sybil Olson, Muriel Reineck and William Johnson. Del is survived by her children, David (Sally) Berkholder, Susan (Bill) Walker, George (Veronika) Berkholder, Jr., and John (Amy) Berkholder; grandchildren, Kristin (Jeff) Rasmussen, Jonathan Walker, Marika (Luke) Neumann, April (Mark) Juliano, Summer (Chris) Stanley, Angel Berkholder, Jeramy (Sunny) Berkholder, Daniel (Amelia) Berkholder, Jason Berkholder, and Paul (Cristina) Berkholder; great-grandchildren, Jackson Rasmussen, Isabella Walker, Holden Walker, Madelyn Stanley, Jake Stanley, Christian Juliano, Isannah Berkholder, and Benjamin Berkholder; and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Del’s Life was held on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 11 am at the First Lutheran Church 218 County Road K New Richmond, WI. Visitation was also Thursday from 10-11 am at the church. Interment was in the New Richmond Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services Beebe Chapel of New Richmond.