Dena Jeanette (Silrum) Erdal, 98, of Blue Earth, formerly of Bricelyn, died on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, at St. Luke&8217;s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m. at Bricelyn Lutheran Church in Bricelyn with the Revs. Pat Hinkie and Ed Nieman officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at the Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery in Seely Township, Faribault County.

Dena Silrum was born on Feb. 20, 1909, the daughter of Ole T. and Elizabeth (Gronfor) Silrum in Seely Township, Faribault County. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Frost. She attended Rosedahl School and Bricelyn High School and graduated from Naeve Hospital School of Nursing in 1922. She did private duty nursing and was a school nurse. She married Ingvold J. Erdal on Oct. 8, 1932, at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Frost. The couple lived in Long Beach, Calif. during the war and returned to Bricelyn after the war. She was a member of Bricelyn Lutheran Church, was active in the WELCA and circles, taught Sunday school for more than 25 years and helped with Junior Luther League. She organized the Cub Scout Troop in Bricelyn and was a den mother.

She loved children and her grandsons were her special joy. They called her Grandma D.

She lived in her home in Bricelyn until moving to St. Luke&8217;s Care Center in 2002 where she was involved in the Bell Choir and participated in the plays that were presented at St. Luke&8217;s.

She is survived by son, Steven (wife Mindy) Erdal of Burnsville; daughter-in-law Marianne Stevens of Huntsville, Ala.; three grandchildren Christopher, Nathan and Matthew; brothers and sisters: Thilmer and wife Mavis Silrum of Blue Earth, Esther Hanson of Blue Earth, Jorgen and wife Ruth Silrum of Albert Lea, Edwin and wife Marie Silrum of Eagan; several nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1970, son Dale in 1969, sister Alma, brother Reuben and nephew Michael Silrum, sister-in-law Myrtle Silrum and brother-in-law Oswald Hanson.