Juanita Balstad, age 76, from Fosston, MN passed away on Friday, February 1st at First Care Living Center in Fosston. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 8th at 2:00 pm at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston with Rev. John Dalen officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, February 7th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston, and there will also be reviewal for one hour before the funeral at the church on Friday. Interment will be at Kingo Lutheran Cemetery in Fosston, and the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.carlinhoialmen.com.

Juanita Irene Kroening was born on October 14, 1936 in Minneapolis, MN to parents Alfred and Virgie (Hilliard) Kroening. While she was growing up in Minneapolis she studied accordion at the McPhail School of Music. She attended school in Minneapolis until 1949 when she moved with her family to Sletten township rural Fosston, MN. She graduated in 1954 from Fosston High School.

Juanita met Robert "Bud" Balstad Sr while she was a waitress at the Little Café in Fosston. They were united in marriage on June 25, 1954. Following their marriage they resided on their family farm southwest of Fosston until 2008 at which time she moved into Cornerstone in Fosston. In 2011 she moved to First Care Nursing Home until her death. To this union five children were born.

Juanita retired from being an Avon representative in 2002 prior to that she also sold Artex Paints, Tri Chem Paints, and Watkins. She also wrote a column in the 13 Towns for several years but stopped doing it in 2002. She was a lifelong member of Kingo Lutheran Church and was a member of the Spring Lake VFW Auxiliary Post 2759 in Lengby, MN. Juanita enjoyed traveling, tending her flower beds, playing cards, and playing her accordion at area nursing homes. She also enjoyed getting together with family and friends.

Juanita Balstad passed away on February 1, 2013 at First Care Nursing Home in Fosston, surrounded by family, at the age of 76 years

Survivors include two sons, three daughters, twelve grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; one brother, and multiple nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Virgie; her husband, Robert Sr; one daughter, Carol Jean; one son, Gene Robert; one great grandchild, Kami Jo; three sisters, Patty Norberg, Delores Bakken, and Diane Dombrowski; and one brother, Roger Kroening.