The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Dorothy Bjerkness, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

She was born June 5, 1929, on the family farm near Fergus Falls, the daughter of Sander and Evelyn (Erickson) Vigen. She graduated from Campbell High School in 1947.

On Sept. 19, 1948, she married Gordon Bjerkness Sr. in Fergus Falls. They made their home in rural Doran where they farmed together and raised their family. Gordon passed away in 1985.

In her early years, Dorothy was employed at Wahpeton Rehabilitation and Ben Franklin. She and Gordon owned a cab business for a time.

In later years, she worked as a secretary at Lampert Lumber Company, and then at Great Plains Natural Gas Co., retiring from there.

She was a member of Stiklestad Lutheran Church in earlier years, where she participated in Ladies Aid. She later joined Calvary Lutheran in Fergus Falls, and was currently a member of Church of the Nazarene in Fergus Falls.

Dorothy enjoyed baking and cooking, and especially spending time with her children and grandchildren. Family get-togethers were always a special time. In her later years she even began snowmobiling.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Gordon; her granddaughter, Evie Ruth Bjerkness; her grandson, Nathaniel Madson; six siblings, Norman Vigen, Irene Mesna, Evadell Saunders, Sander Vigen Jr., Gloria Aasness, and Delight Loeks; and sons-in-law, David Madson, Norman Everson and Michael Kayser.

Survivors include four children, Gordon (Marlys) Bjerkness Jr. of Cavalier, N.D., Karen (Jim) South of Underwood, Russell (Tammy) Bjerkness of Foxhome, and Barbara (Bob) Kihne of St. Cloud; grandchildren, Brian Bjerkness, Michelle (Tate) Burns, Stephanie (Matthew) Overgaard, Melissa Kayser-Garcia, Jesse South, Cassandra and Angela South, Jarrod (Andrea) Boesen, Travis (Sarah) Boesen, Brandon, Daniel and Christopher Kihne, and Josh Madson; 19 great-grandchildren; a special niece, Shirley Stine of Faribault; sisters-in-law, Pat Vigen, Joann Vigen-Fegen, Lorraine (Dale) Bentley, and Lorraine Bjerkness; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., at the funeral home, and one hour prior to the service at the church

Service: 11 a.m. Wednesday, at Church of the Nazarene, Fergus Falls

Clergy: Rev. Steve Hoffman

Burial: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls

Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls

Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com