Bernie Eystad

A memorial visitation for Bernie Eystad of Donnelly, Minnesota will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 8, 2025, at Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris. A private burial will be held at a later date.

Bernie was born on May 24, 1958 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota the daughter of Samuel and Helen (Schmoll) Duchene. She grew up in the Sauk Centre and Padua area. Following her high school graduation, she moved to Willmar and worked at nursing home.

On May 2, 1980, she married Robert Eystad. The couple made their home in Hancock for 10 years and then moved to Donnelly where they have lived for 35 years.

Bernie worked at the clothing store in Hancock, drove truck as a team with her husband, Robert and worked at West Wind Village for over 30 years.

She was an avid decorator of her yard and home staging both with the appropriate seasonal items. She especially enjoyed her plant gardens in her yard which mostly included a variety of hostas.

Bernie died peacefully on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at her home in Donnelly. She was 67 years old.

Survivors include her husband, Robert of Donnelly; daughter, Lacey Eystad (Jon Hinden) of Buffalo Lake, MN; siblings, Greg (Diane) Duchene, LaVonne (Richard) Hellerman, Robert (Carol) Duchene, Paul (Nancy) Duchene, Marianna Lush, Rosemary Martin-Duchene, Kevin (Helen) Duchene and Jeanne Duchene-Luethmers; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marlys Duchene, Diane Duchene, Noel Johnson, Donna Eystad, Calvin (Levinia) Eystad, Kahla (Glen) Gillespie, Jamey (Kathy) Eystad and Laurie (Rick) Rollman and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Helen; siblings, Joe Duchene, David Duchene and Daniel Duchene and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Melvin and Donna Eystad; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Stanley Lush, Paul Martin, Janice Johnson and Lee Eystad.