Irene Balko

Irene Balko, 84, Brainerd, died Thursday, June 6, 2002.

She was born Aug. 27, 1917, in Redwood County to Everett and Florence Clift. She married Erwin Balko and they farmed in Redwood County for several years. They moved to Brainerd in 1952 and she worked at Montgomery Ward in the accounting department. She moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and worked for her son, Robert, in the accounting department until her retirement. She returned to Brainerd when she retired.

Survivors include three daughters, Bette Speed, Baxter, Nancy Ferguson, Brainerd, and Patti Misener, Columbia Heights; two sons, Everett Balko, Cold Spring, and Robert Balko, Lake Shore; one sister, Dorothy Hawton, Redwood Falls; 15 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Her husband, one grandson, two brothers and two sisters died earlier.

Services will be 4 p.m. today at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with the Rev. Jennifer Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd.

Friends may call an hour before services today at the funeral chapel.