Jerda Emelia Friberg, 96, of Florence, passed away on Sunday February 16, 2014, at her home on the Friberg Family Farm.

She was born on a dairy farm northwest of Florence on September 10, 1917, to parents John and Alma (Bjorkman) Johnson. They had six children - Jenny, Hannah, Fritz, Wally, Jerda, and Ann.

Jerda graduated from eighth grade at the age of 12 and began her lifetime of self-education. Her first job was as a cook and maid for the Sells families for 10 years before she set off for work in Chicago.

On October 15, 1940, she married Philip Friberg and they had five children. In addition to raising a family and running a farm, Jerda worked at the Volta International Resistor Factory, the school cafeteria, and provided child care for local families. At the age of 65, after the death of her husband, she began a new career as a cook at the Florence Senior Center, retiring at the age of 85.

Jerda is survived by one sister, Ann Snell; four children, James (Lida) Friberg, Sawyer Lake, Mich. and San Clemente, Calif., Karen (Jim) Barker, San Diego, Calif; Robert (JoAnne) Friberg and Steve (Lori) Friberg of Florence; one daughter-in-law Katharine Friberg; thirteen grandchildren, Mark (Jill) Friberg, Michael (Jen) Friberg, Eric (Torrie) Friberg, Carissa and Courtney Barker, Caitlyn (Colin) Chance, Amy (Josh) Friberg-Wyckoff, Rhonda Friberg (Sean Senti), Heather (Matt) Robertson, Kara (Ryan) Knox and Thomas and Nicholas T. Friberg and eight great-grandchildren; Grant and Nicholas D. Friberg, Andrew and Molly Friberg, Lunden and Braden Friberg, Elin Chance and Lochlan Robertson.

In addition to her parents and husband, Phillip, she was preceded in death by one son, John, and four infant grandchildren, David, Holly, Matthew and Sarah Friberg.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 21, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will also be held on Saturday, February 22, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Florence. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, 11:00 a.m. at the church. Pastor Doug Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in Commonwealth Cemetery, Commonwealth, Wis. in the spring.

You may leave a condolence for her family online at www. JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, Florence to honor Jerda’s legacy of life.