Monica Alice Blegen

Monica Alice (Jenniges) Blegen, age 63, of Pemberton, died unexpectedly on Friday, August 23, 2024 at her home.

Monica was born on September 22nd, 1960 to Omer and Alice Jenniges in Springfield, MN. She attended Lamberton High School and graduated with the Class of 1978. She met her husband Chris Blegen while attending college in Faribault, MN. She graduated with honors from Faribault Vocational School at the top of her class. She was offered a position in Breezy Point on Gull Lake. She was married to Chris on January 26th, 1980, St Mathias Catholic Church in Wanda. Together they had three children, Benjamin Blegen, Sara (Mark) Quast and Whitney (Connor) Kane. She was a kind and caring woman who went out of her way to always help others.

Monica was a member of the St. Ann Catholic Church. She attended Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and was often seated with her grandchildren. She had a strong faith in the Lord and enjoyed being her grandson’s Confirmation Sponsor. She will be reunited and welcomed with open arms by her parents and brothers.

For fifteen years she did daycare out of her home in Pemberton, allowing her to stay home and raise her two older children. She made accommodations for each family to help meet their needs and sometimes did not even receive payment for her services. She loved helping others.

Monica had the highest talent in culinary arts. She worked for Micheal’s, The Elks Club and DeAnnies making high end desserts. She also worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Gus Johnson Plaza Senior Dining, Meals on Wheels, St. Clair School Kitchen and was an employee in the Deli at Mankato Hy Vee. She was known for all her delicious meals, but specifically her unbeatable potato salad. In every position she worked at she went out of her way to make and did extras to make other people happy.

Monica enjoyed spending time up north at her cabin in Chippewa National Forest. She loved being on the lake watching the loons, fishing, canoeing, walking to see the Lady Slippers, the wildlife, listening to the wolves howling and being taken on 4wheeler rides with her grandkids. She even shot a bear in 2020! Every summer she would spend a week at the cabin with her grandkids staying up late playing cards and laughing with them.

Monica enjoyed taking annual ice fishing trips to Lake of the Woods with her son Ben. Monica enjoyed trolling for walleyes at night on Cass Lake. She loved spending time with her daughter Whitney cooking in the kitchen passing down recipes. She just enjoyed being together with her family.

The highlight of her life was her four grandchildren. Cameron, Valerie, Delilah and Quinn Quast of St. Clair. Monica would call or text her grandchildren everyday and knew every single detail of their daily lives. Monica was present at every event her grandchildren participated in; never missing a sporting event, concert or science fair. She was always seated with her husband Chris and cheered for her grandchildren and their team. She made friends everywhere she went, always sharing a smile or a joke.

Monica struggled with epilepsy for the past 21 years but she will be remembered for the way she made other people feel - loved and cared for. Each person was treated like they mattered. She reminded everyone she met of their positive characteristics. She was always available to help and consistently prioritized everyone else’s needs above her own.

Monica is preceded in death by her parents Omer and Alice Jenniges, her brother Tom Jenniges, and her brother Rodney Jenniges. She is survived by her husband Chris Blegen of Pemberton, son Benjamin Blegen of St. Cloud, daughter Sara (Mark) Quast of St. Clair, daughter Whitney (Connor) Kane of St. Paul, her four grandchildren Cameron, Valerie, Delilah and Quinn Quast. She is survived by her sister Rozanne Rose, sister-in-law Marlys Jenniges, brother Robert (Deb) Jenniges, brother Kevin (Lisa) Jenniges, sister Mary (Todd) Evans and sister Wendy (Thomas) Haley. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and their children. Her husband, children and grandchildren are devastated by this enormous loss. 

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 PM on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at the Janesville Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville with Fr. Robert Schneider as Celebrant.