Michelle K. Bergeron

Woodland Hills Funeral Home 507-387-5504

Michelle K. Bergeron, age 55, of Mankato, passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Mayo Clinic Health Systems-Mankato.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at 11 A.M. at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 423 West Seventh Street in Mankato, Minnesota, and lunch will be served following the Mass.

Michelle’s family will greet friends on Tuesday morning for one hour prior to services at the church. Woodland Hills Funeral Home of Mankato is assisting the family with arrangements. www.woodlandhillsfh.com

Michelle is preceded in death by her foster parents, Harvey and Phyllis Menth of Osseo, Minnesota, and by family dogs Genesis, Lady, Angel, Casey, Rose, and Mikey.

Michelle is survived by the love of her life, Randy Wallenberg; Randy is a ward of his brother Ronald and of her guardian Timothy McGowan, son of Jack and Diann McGowan. Michelle is also survived by the rest of Jack and Diann’s family:
Bridget Oslund, wife of John and mother of Eric; Heather, wife of Ryan Hoshaw and mother of Trystan; and Travis.
Daniel McGowan, husband of Elizabeth (Betsy) and father of Maretta and Duncan.
Caroline McGowan.
Christopher McGowan, husband of Jamie and father of Shane, Katherine, Christian, and Ashley.
Shannon McGowan, wife of Scott Murray and step-mom to Grace and Eve.
Patrick McGowan, husband of Ashley and father of Alexandria, partner of Nicholas Schulte; Tyler; and Henry.
Michael McGowan, husband of Julie, father of Kinley and step-father to Ian, Owen, and Adeline Risto.

She is also survived by her housemates, everyone at HSI and MRCI, and a host of friends who will miss her dearly. Finally, she is also survived by Petey, the group home dog, who would sleep next to Michelle’s bed; Chloe, a fellow resident’s cat which adopted Michelle; and Ruadhan (“ROO-wan”), the dachshund Timothy named.

Michelle was born in the Twin Cities and was taken in by the Menths while still a baby. She graduated from Osseo Senior High School, lived in a group home in New Hope, and worked at Chrestomathy. She loved animals of all types, and they tended to attach to her as well.

She met Randy in approximately October of 2004 at a Halloween dance. When Randy moved to Mankato in 2006, Timothy became Michelle's guardian and moved her down to live with Randy. In Mankato, she worked at MRCI and engaged in community events. In 2014, she moved to an HSI group home in Mankato.

Randy and Michelle still got together nearly every weekend, going to movies or out to eat, bowling occasionally, and attending every LEEP and Different Drummers Dance available. She roped Randy into joining The Miracle League to play baseball in North Mankato, which they both thoroughly enjoyed. She delighted in movies, TV, and music and amassed quite a stunning collection of DVDs and audio CDs.

Michelle was found unconscious on the floor of her bedroom about 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. She was transported to Immanuel St. Joseph (Mayo) Hospital in Mankato, Minnesota, and was diagnosed as having had either a stroke or heart attack or both. (Her cerebral palsy made it difficult to be sure.) Timothy was holding her hand as Randy lay sleeping in her room when Michelle took her last breath at 1:29 a.m. Saturday, January 14, 2023.

Rest in peace, Michelle. We love you and miss you and can't wait to join you when it's our turn.