Lyle W. Berghuis

Memorial services for Lyle W. Berghuis, age 84, of Milaca, will be held Friday, September 18 at 11:00 a.m. at the Milaca Alliance Church. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 Thursday, September 17 at Milaca Alliance Church and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Great Commission Fund at the Milaca Alliance Church. Lyle Wayne Berghuis was born on November 13, 1930 to Neal and Abby (Wieberdink) Berghuis in Prinsburg, Minnesota. Shortly after his birth, they moved to the Milaca area where he went to school and worked at Spandies grocery store. Eventually Lyle took over and purchased that Red & White Grocery store which he later named Lyle's Supermarket and ran a successful community grocery store for almost 30 years. He was a faithful member of Milaca Alliance church and taught his family the importance or having a personal relationship with Jesus. To his wife, Betty (Soderstrom), Lyle was her best friend. Their journey in life together began 64 years ago on January 24, 1951. They were so compatible in all they did. They loved camping, traveling, fishing, gardening. They enjoyed life together with laughter and fun adventures. Together they had five children and modeled how wonderful a Christ-centered marriage could be. To his children, Larry of Seattle, WA, David (Sandy) of Mequon, WI, Diane (Scott) Slocum of Essex Junction, VT, Debbie (Doug) Vedders of Foreston, MN, and Donna (Brian) Maki of Elk River, MN, he was their hero, their rock, their tenderhearted dad and the strongest and wisest man they knew. The memories he made and the lessons he taught will now be cherished until we see him again. To his 17 grandchildren, Brent Wilson, Brian & Jonathan Berghuis, Joshua, Jacob, Kaelee (Petrini) & Jared Berghuis, Sarah (McNulty), Dayna (Davis) & Adam Slocum, Michael, Angela (Helle), Mitchel and Steven Vedders, Rachel, Rebekah and Ben Maki, he was the grandpa who made trails in the woods, naming a trail after each of them. He let them drive his boat, took them camping, snowmobiling and helped them make all kinds of cool forts. He let them do things they will cherish a lifetime. He was their teacher, mentor, prayer warrior and all around fun grandpa. To his 18 and counting great-grandchildren, they were just getting to know what an amazing man he truly was and will relish in his legacy. To his brothers Edwin (predeceased), Marlin (Harriet) of New Providence, IA, Wes (Bev) of Milaca, and sister Elaine (predeceased) and brother-in-law John Moes of Grand Rapids, MI, he was their big brother, friend, protector, role model and someone they looked up to. To his friends & his community, he was a loyal, kind friend, a witness to anyone he met about his spiritual journey and the maker of the best potato sausage around. But most importantly, to his Heavenly Father, he was His child and passed that love and the importance of knowing Him to his children and grandchildren and to anyone he met in life, because you see, Lyle/Dad knew the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ and wanted to share this opportunity with others. While we miss him here on earth, Lyle is now in the presence of Jesus and is now enjoying the life that he has longed for. Believing the Bible to be true, that we "lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven", Lyle is now a very rich man.