Carrie Joyce Kruger

Carrie Joyce Kruger, 96, Beardsley, MN, passed away Friday, June 12, 2026, at West Wind Village in Morris, MN.

Funeral services will be Monday, June 29th, at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation prior at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Morris, MN, with Rev. Wayne D. Kopitzke officiating. Music will be provided by pianist Rita Lambert and vocalists Sue Sykora and Stacey Borgheiinck.  The service will be recorded and will appear at the bottom of this page when available.

Burial will be at the Siloah Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Graceville, MN, after the funeral service.

Carrie Joyce Kruger (friends called her Joyce) was born June 28, 1929, in Graceville, MN, to William and Alma Holtz. She was a lifetime member of Siloah Lutheran Church, including being baptized and getting confirmed there. At Siloah she was active in teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Ladies Aid, and serving fellowship. She attended country school near Graceville, MN, and then went on to the Ag School in Morris, MN, where she graduated and became a teacher at District 54 country school where she taught grades 1st – 8th.

On March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) she received a letter from Paul Kruger who was stationed at Fort Bragg asking for her hand in marriage. Paul and Carrie (Paul called Carrie “Tweety”) were then married on July 16th, 1952, and remained married for over 60 years until Paul’s death on May 2nd of 2013. After they married, Carrie became Paul’s right hand at the farm. She supported him, was the chief accountant for the farm, brought meals out to the fields, drove truck, helped him with baling hay, and with all the animals that they had.

Carrie’s hobbies included gardening, fishing, sewing, quilting, bingo, playing whist and rummy, dancing with Paul, and especially cooking and baking bread. Carrie was referred to as a “scientist” when cooking always experimenting with ingredients until she came up with the recipe that she liked best. Oftentimes she would give away or use freshly baked bread to pay off debts even into her 90s. Carrie was a lifelong member of the Beardsley Auxiliary and enjoyed riding in a red convertible (sitting on a pillow so people could actually see her) during Beardsley Days to represent the Auxiliary.

Survivors include five children, Jay (Cheryl) Kruger of Jamestown, ND, Nancy (Steve) Bacon of Bakersfield, CA, Hazel (Mike) Tolifson of Browns Valley, MN, Thomas Kruger of Morris, MN, and Michael (Teresa) Kruger of Anthem, AZ; twelve grandchildren, Carrie Quinby, Danielle Lesmeister, Uriah Anderson, Maegen Phaneuf, Andrew Miller, Tammy Kruger, Grace McGill, Emily Lagodny, Whitney Bacon, Charlie Kruger, Shane Tolifson, and Kyle Tolifson; ten great-grandchildren, Keira, Sarah and Ava Quinby; Benji and Poppy Phaneuf; Hailey, Jaxson, Jaynie, and Willie Lesmeister; and Willow Lagodny.

Carrie was preceded in death by husband Paul (2013); two children, Mark (1953) and Janice (1973); parents, William and Alma; sibling William (Billy); son-in-law, Mark Miller; and daughter-in-law, Linda Antrim Kruger.