Opal
Bjerken, 87
Thief
River Falls - Opal Bjerken, 87, died on
Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at Northwest Medical
Center, CNC Unit, in Thief River Falls.
Funeral
services were held on Saturday, September 21 at
Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with
Rev. John Wollenzien officiating. Diane Johnson was
the pianist and soloist. Musical selections
included "Jesus Loves Me Medley" and "Amazing
Grace." Celeste Bjerken read the poem "I Will
Always Remember and Celeste and Heather Bjerken
read the poem "When Tomorrow Starts Without Me."
Casketbearers were Christopher Bjerken, Gary
Thorson, Ron Lindberg, Gordon Bjerken, Tony
Kozojed, Art Buringrud, Larry Poole and Neil
Carlson. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery in
Thief River Falls.
Opal
Adelle Rhodegard was born on January 3, 1915, the
daughter of Halvor and Hilda (Eklund) Rhodegard.
She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran
faith and attended school in Thief River Falls. On
February 22, 1933, Opal was united in marriage to
Ernest Bjerken.
Opal
enjoyed reading and shared that love with her
family, encouraging them to become avid readers as
well. She enjoyed cooking and baking, her specialty
was homemade doughnuts. She also had a lively
imagination and a good sense of humor and enjoyed
entertaining. Opal was a member of Trinity Lutheran
Church and served on the Pennington County Election
Board for more than 40 years.
Survivors
include her children, Carol (Don) Narverud, Richard
Bjerken, Wayne (Karen) Bjerken and Larry (Barb)
Bjerken, all of Thief River Falls; 10
grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a
sister, Maurine Tinsley of Concord,
Calif.
Opal
was preceded in death by her parents; her husband,
Ernest; daughter, Donna Thorson; a granddaughter;
and two sisters, Violet Lindberg and Eileen
Rhodegard.
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