Sylvia Edwina (Rymerson) Bren

Sylvia Edwina (Rymerson) Bren passed away peacefully Saturday August 15 at Cottagewood Senior Community in Rochester after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Covid 19.

Sylvia was born October 5, 1932 in Brookings County, S. D. to Selmer and Stella (Johnson) Rymerson. The third of six children, she grew up on the family farm north of Brookings and attended Brookings High School graduating in 1950.  She married Dale Olaf Bren February 11, 1951 and together they raised a family of seven children in Brookings before moving to Chatfield, MN in 1967.

Sylvia enjoyed outdoor activities of every kind, conquering crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.  She loved gardening, dancing and singing along with Big Band music.  Sylvia was active in her church for many years especially during the lefse season when she chaired the annual lefse-making for the lutefisk suppers. “Grandma Syl” always kept the family supplied with Norwegian pastries for the holidays, cookies in the cookie jar, and fresh bread on the counter.  Her home was always open for the grandkids. They spent their days at Grandma’s when they were sick and she made lunches once a week for them during the school year. Sylvia was also an accomplished seamstress and made curtains and window coverings for many homes.  As her dementia progressed it became more difficult for her to stay in her home so she moved into Cottagewood Senior Care where she lived out her final years.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers (Stanley Rymerson and Sanford Rymerson), a sister Shirley (Rymerson) Hanson, and her husband.

Sylvia is survived by her seven children: Gary (Janet) Bren, Mike (Deb) Bren, Craig (Nina) Bren all of Chatfield; Julie (Roger) Ledin of Lakeville; Phil (Sheila) Bren of Rochester; Peggy (Mark) Fratzke of Oakland, CA; and Lisa (Matt) Bradt of Chatfield and Tom Lindqvist (her Swedish son from Stockholm); 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Sandra (Rymerson) Wilber of Hendricks, MN, and Sharon (Rymerson) Deibert of Fargo, ND.

Sylvia’s family would like to thank the kind and caring staff of Cottagewood for the wonderful care she received during her stay there.

There will be a brief celebration of Sylvia’s life at Chatfield Lutheran Church on Thursday, August 20 with visitation from 11:00 to 1:00 and a private family funeral at 1:00.  Memorials will go to Alzheimer’s Research.  Burial will be in the Chatfield Cemetery.  To share a condolence or memory with the Bren family, please visit rileyfuneralhomes.com.

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