Angela K Beyenhof

Angela Kay (Berning) Beyenhof of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, December 20, 2023 at Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha surrounded by family after a hard-fought battle with leukemia.

As a child, Angie grew up spending countless hours with her cousin Jodi. They were the sisters to each other that they each didn’t have. They sometimes had too much fun, but oh the laughter and giggles. They spent a lifetime of sisterhood. Angie’s high school friends were so special to her, too many to list, but Amy, Catey and Ruth held special places in her heart.

It’s no secret that Angie was a die-hard Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins fan. She and Ryan went to many games and also to spring training in Florida for vacation. Angie had a Minnesota Vikings Christmas tree, complete with purple lights and lots of Vikings ornaments. She was a fan of the Yellowstone TV series, watching DIY home improvement shows, Wheel of Fortune, going to concerts, reading and playing pinochle, especially with Grandma Berning. Angie and Ryan loved their get-togethers with Cory and Crystal, whether that be game-night or a vacation.

Angie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on February 21, 2023. Immediately when we arrived at the hospital, doc said she needed blood transfusions ASAP. Anyone that knew Angie well, knows she HAD to ask her doctor for one promise – that NO units of blood given to her were from Packers fans! “I don’t want to be cheering for the green team cuz of new blood”! The staff at Sanford Oncology appreciated her humor. Late February, she also started working with the Leukemia Team at UNMC. She was flown to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha in July after a stay in ICU in Sioux Falls and she remained in Omaha thereafter.

Cancer takes so much from so many and everyone’s journey is different. For Angie, it took plenty, but it also made her realize she could do hard things, that she was stronger than she thought, tomorrow is not guaranteed and wonderful people seem to magically appear when you need them to. The staff at UNMC became her family – best group of caregivers she could have wanted. Her recent stay at UNMC was five months long. Angie endured so much and at the same time, her witty sense of humor uplifted staff who worked in a very difficult department. Watching dozens of those caregivers come to the ICU to say their goodbyes was heart-warming—they loved her. We are eternally grateful to each of them.

Angie was born on December 3, 1974 in Sheldon, Iowa. She was the daughter of Randy and Karen Berning; sister to Shawn (Amber) Berning; and Auntie to Oscar and Frederick. Amber became her sister as Angie never wanted the in-law word in there as it, “wasn’t right”. Oscar loved it when Auntie Angie made him homemade spaghetti – his favorite! Angie loved Oscar and “Fritz” beyond measure. Being hospitalized was not going to stop her from a memory for them. She even did Christmas shopping for the boys from her hospital bed in Omaha. Angie was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Adrian, Minnesota. She graduated from Adrian High School, attended Alexandria Technical College, and finished her degree at MN West College. On September 30, 2000, Angie married Ryan Beyenhof at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne, Minnesota and became a part of the Beyenhof family. She enjoyed the family get togethers with them. She loved helping people and was known for being kind to everyone. Her last employment was at Southwest Health and Human Services in Luverne.

Heaven gained a special soul. Not sure if angels laugh much, but they will learn now! Angie is survived by her husband, Ryan Beyenhof; parents, Randy and Karen [Jurrens] Berning; brother, Shawn (Amber) Berning; nephews, Oscar and Frederick; grandmother, Delores Jurrens; grandfather, Alvin Berning; in-laws, Bob (Sue) Beyenhof; sisters-in-law, Stacy (Darin) Schaap and Bobbie Jo (Robert) Cady; and nieces and nephews, Dawson, Mara, Brett, Bailie, and Bria. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Angie was surely greeted in heaven by her grandfather, Donald Jurrens; grandmother, Gertrude Berning; aunt, Laurie Abels; cousins, Josh Nolte and Sophia Klaassen-Fastert; and her “Opa and Oma”, great-grandparents, Fred & Fannie Johnson.