Joan Burslie

Joan Burslie, age 51, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Wednesday (February 19th) at Essentia Health Living Center in Fosston after a courageous battle with cancer. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday (February 28th) at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. John Dalen officiating. Interment will be in Hope Lutheran Cemetery at a later date. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com. Joan Marie Bakken was born on April 22, 1962 on Easter Sunday in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Willard and Ruth (Parsley) Bakken. She grew up on the current Bakken farm south of Fosston where she attended Fosston High School.  Joan was united in marriage to James "Jimbo" Burslie  of McIntosh on April 22, 1983 in Crookston, Minnesota. They moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where their daughter Katrina was born.  Jimbo passed away on February 21, 1991.  Later a son, Nicholas, was born to Joan and Jon Vig in 1995. Joan was currently living at home in Fosston. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Joan spent her working years as a cook at the McIntosh Manor Nursing Home, Midway Care Center in Fosston as well as other places in the area. She was a "crafty" person. She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, sewing and making rugs and giving them away to friends and family. She also liked gardening and reading and watching westerns. She also had a love for all animals, but especially cats and horses. Joan was a wonderfully kind and giving person. Even while struggling with her own health issues, she was always concerned about the welfare of her family and others. Everyone was always made to feel welcome at her home where many of her children's friends enjoyed spending time there. Most of all, Joan loved and treasured her family. Joan fought a long and hard, strong and brave, battle with cancer. As an unknown author wrote "Cancer is so limited...it cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot eat away peace. It cannot destroy confidence. It cannot kill friendship. It cannot shut out memories. It cannot silence courage. It cannot reduce eternal life. It cannot quench the Spirit." Joan passed into eternal life on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at Essentia Health Living Center at the age of 51 years, nine months and 29 days. Survivors include her two children, Katrina Burslie of Fargo, ND, and Nick Vig of Fosston; her mother, Ruth Bakken of Fosston; five siblings, James Bakken of Fosston, Kimberly Bakken of Fargo, Tim "John" Bakken of Crookston, MN, Kelly Bakken (Derrel Easley) of Grand Forks, ND, and Kris Bakken (Samantha Nesvold) of Fosston; seven nieces and nephews, Melissa, Sean, Cole, Jake, Sheyanne, Kristian, and Kaiden. Aunts and uncles and many cousins also survive. She was preceded in death by her Father Willard Bakken,  her grandparents; Jimbo Burslie; and Nick's half brother, David Vig.