Jennifer Lyn Bidne, surrounded by her family, joined her grandfathers in heaven on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Rochester.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Kiester. The Rev. Katie Pals will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family. To leave an online condolence visit www.brussheitner.com.

Jennifer was born March 16, 1981, to Loren and Joan Bidne at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea. She was baptized at Naeve Hospital that same day with reaffirmation of her baptism in November 1983 at her church, Trinity Lutheran Church of Kiester. Jennifer was a well-loved member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was confirmed in her faith on June 1, 1997. She faithfully worshipped there and was an active member, always helping at Trinity’s annual Memorial Day dinners.

Jennifer graduated in 2000 from United South Central High School in Wells. She worked at Riverland College in Albert Lea, as well as MRCI and MRCI Thrift Shop in Mankato.

Jennifer was known in her community for her joyful personality and her strength through all her surgeries and hospitalizations. Her spina bifida did not hinder her zeal for life. Often called “Spunky” by her family, she took her role of big sister seriously. Throughout the years, she enjoyed competitively playing Scrabble with her family, traveling to Disney twice, celebrating birthdays and holidays, and shopping with her two younger sisters and her parents.

Jennifer was an avid buyer on eBay on the computer, constantly searching out collectables for her Muppets, Disney, “Wizard of Oz” and Pillsbury Doughboy collections. If one was searching for something, Jennifer could find it for them on the computer.

Throughout her life she spent time journaling, highlighting the events of her day. She loved writing out recipes and searching for new ones. She enjoyed cooking and baking her favorites for her family, such as her award-winning pumpkin pie and her famous tater tot hotdish. She especially enjoyed sharing her delicious chocolate chip cookies during fieldwork. Jennifer loved shopping and accessorizing her large wardrobe with matching jewelry and shoes.

Jennifer was a great blessing to all who knew her and showed that with the love of God, even amidst challenges, one could live joyfully.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers Calmer Bidne of Kiester and Armond Braun of St. Ansgar.

Jennifer is survived and will be greatly missed by her parents Loren and Joan Bidne of Kiester; her sisters Janelle Bidne (fiance, Kevin Van Sloun) of White Bear Lake and Jeanette Bidne (husband, Dan Foster) of Vernon Center; grandmothers Elaine Bidne of Albert Lea, formerly of Kiester, and Marcella Braun of Buffalo Center, Iowa, formerly of St. Ansgar; close family friend, Mary Lou Neel, the family babysitter and longtime caregiver, as well as caregivers Hope Bauman and Cindy Scherb; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.