Obituary of Irene Soyring

Irene Soyring, 71, Esko, died Monday, May 5, 2003 in St. Petersburg, FL after a very brief battle with cancer. She was born August 7, 1931 in Ogema, Minnesota, the daughter of Christian and Hilma (Perala) Lukanen. She was raised in Sugar Bush Township, known as the Strawberry Lake area, and was a 1949 graduate of Detroit Lakes High School. Irene married Carl Soyring on October 1, 1949 in Detroit Lakes. Irene worked for more than 20 years at Nopeming Nursing Home, first as a nurse's aide and then as a licensed practical nurse after graduating from nurses' training at Indian Head Technical Institute in 1979 at the age of 48. She was extremely devoted to her family. She was always willing to help her family and friends with projects, whether that meant painting a bedroom or french braiding her granddaughter's hair. Irene was a faithful member of Bethany Covenant Church in Cloquet. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Carl, on June 6, 2001; her parents, Chris and Hilma, and a brother, Norman Lukanen. Irene is survived by her children, Robert (Mary) Soyring of Cloquet, Peggy (Allan) Holte of Sioux Falls, SD, Christine (Brian) Greene of Nokomis, FL, Denice (David) Higman of St. Petersburg, FL and Colleen (Patrick) Robertson of Proctor; 12 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren; three sisters, Bertha (Buddy) Burbeck of Moorhead, Edna (Anthony) Bunder of Miami, FL and Pearl Sparks of Oklahoma City; and a brother, Erland (Sue) Lukanen of St. Paul. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, May 10, 2003 in the Cloquet Gospel Tabernacle with Pastor Ken Sohriakoff and Chaplain Allan Holte officiating. Memorials are preferred to Bethany Covenant Church Building Fund. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet.