Orlena Iversen

Orlena A. (Bergstrom) Iversen passed away peacefully early in the morning on Thursday, August 16th at her residence in Maplewood, MN.

She was born November 24, 1934 in Warren, MN to Dorothy A. (Blake) and Hilmer C. Bergstrom. Her youth was spent in Warren, Norcross, Herman and Fergus Falls, MN, graduating from Fergus Falls High School in 1952. She was married to Elden A. Iversen and together they had 3 children. She graduated with a BA in Music Ed from Southwest State in Marshall, MN. Following her divorce, she moved to the Twin Cities. She worked for Knudson Co., TCF of MN, and GMHC. As Vice President of commercial lending at TCF, she worked with financing for inner-city and first-ring suburban mixed-use development projects. Her job took her to several other states to handle properties. She pursued and received her MA in Liberal Studies from the U of M. Upon her retirement from TCF, she worked for Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) as special projects coordinator. She served on many boards over the past decades, including being president of Women Ventures and president of Preservation Alliance of MN. In her love of music, she served on the board of JazzMN.

Orlena enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was especially proud of the activities and accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She was a gifted and talented person who enjoyed everything she put her mind to including painting with oils and watercolors, photography, refinishing furniture, tracing her family roots, sewing, quilting, gardening, cooking and baking (passing along several recipes from her mother). She loved the Arts, had season tickets to the Ordway and Minnesota Orchestra. She donated her piano to MSP Airport, and it can be seen and heard in terminal 2.

Orlena was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Corinne (Barry) LaGrave of Stillwater, MN; sons, James Iversen of Robbinsdale, MN and Mark (Cheryl) Iversen of Mankato, MN; grandchildren, Tyler (Olga) LaGrave, Josh LaGrave, Amanda (Al) Thomas, Stephen Iversen, Nathanael Iversen, Anna Iversen, Reuben Lee, Shaun Lee and Faith Lee; great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Tobijah and Hannah; sisters, Myrt Wright of Sun Prairie, WI and Leanne Bergstrom of Madison, WI; brother, Ken (Nancy) Bergstrom of White Bear Township, MN; 3 nieces, many cousins, extended family members and friends.