Iris Furuseth died at 91 on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at Northome Health Center in Northome, MN.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend Mark Helgeland officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 pm Prayer service following the visitation. There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

She was born Sadie Iris Ayers on May 5, 1919 to Dake Whitaker and Sarah Elizabeth (Taylor) Ayers. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. She attended Norden Township School and graduated from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls in 1936, then enrolled in Bemidji State Teachers College and was awarded her teaching certificate on August 4, 1942. She also took music classes and played volleyball. After graduation she taught at Swenson Lake School in Bemidji and later at Knox Elementary in Thief River Falls.

She married Paul Oscar Furuseth on April 19, 1946 in Minneapolis, MN. They built and, for the next five years, together operated the Kneale Avenue Grocery Store in Thief River Falls. In November 1951 they purchased the farm, which they would later name Paradise Acres, on the sand ridge in Sanders Township. There they raised livestock, small grains, large gardens, and six boys. Later she worked with Paul at his insurance agency and taught for several years at Discovery Place Daycare.

Iris was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid. She taught Sunday school for years and actively participated in many, many church activities. She served on the Pennington County Welfare Board and the Oakland Park Nursing Home Board, was a member of the Good Cheer Club, and an adult leader for the City View 4-H Club. She was a master gardener and enjoyed hiking, earning I-walked-Pennington-County t-shirts for several consecutive years. She loved baking and cooking and was an avid reader.

Backyard games began immediately after church every Sunday at Paradise Acres and lunches and suppers always included many relatives and neighborhood children.

Iris is survived by her sons: Peder Furuseth, Denver, CO; Paul Steven (Arlene) Furuseth, Rochert, MN; Edward (Marlys) Furuseth, Warroad, MN; David (Michelle) Furuseth, Northome, MN; Dale (Aleta) Furuseth, Rochester, MN; Lee (Jane) Furuseth, Walker, MN; 14 grandchildren: Amy (Mark) Pagel, Ben (Brenda), Lisa Cullen, Erica (Jeff) Griffin, Sadie (Will) Albrecht, Jason (Rhonda), Chad, Aaron (Anh), Joe (Anna), Alyson (Zach) Simons, Jonathan, Heather, Hilary, Johannah; great grandchildren: Emerson, Alexander and Audrey Pagel, Whitney Furuseth, Steven and Chaz Cullen, Loren and Fisher Griffin, Brodan and Bridgette Jensen, Jaret, Tucker and Kerigan Furuseth and many nieces and nephews.

Iris was preceded in death by her husband Paul in 1995, parents, 2 brothers: Eldred and Dake Ayers, and 2 sisters: Eva Petersen and Ardis Wakefield.

PRAYER SERVICE MUSIC: Rev. Terri & Chris Cuppett
ORGANIST: Joyce Halbasch
SOLOIST: Zach Simons I Will Rise
MUSIC: Joel Kezar On the Wings of a Snow White Dove
READERS: Rev. Terri Cuppett and Erica Griffin
CONGREGATION HYMNS: In the Garden
PALLBEARERS: 6 Grandsons: Ben, Jason, Chad, Aaron, Joe, Jon
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Amy, Lisa, Erica, Sadie, Alyson, Heather, Hilary, Johannah