Morgan Kjer, 78, Fergus Falls, MN

Morgan R. Kjer

Morgan Robert Kjer, 78, of rural Fergus Falls, died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, at his home on Swan Lake from cancer, under the care of Lakeland Hospice.
He was born Oct. 8, 1929, in Lee, Ill., the son of Ludvig and Thea Kjer. As a young child he lived in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., where his father was a minister at Tanum Forest Church. He lost his father at the age of 10, but not before acquiring a love of fishing and the Lutheran church from him.
He graduated from high school in Stoughton, Wis., in 1947, and received a B.A. degree from Luther College in 1951, where he was a member of the National Championship Debate Team.
He served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Holabird in Baltimore, from 1952 to 1954. He then attended Bradley University in Illinois, completing his master’s degrees from Winona State and the University of Minnesota.He taught in Waukon, Iowa, and Morris.
On April 18, 1958, he married Margaret L. Sather and was committed to her for the rest of his life.
Morgan taught English at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton from 1957 to 1967, and at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park from 1967 to his retirement in 1991. As a teacher he influenced thousands of students.
Upon retirement Morgan and Margaret moved to Swan Lake, near Fergus Falls.
Morgan always stood up for what he believed to be right. He crossed picket lines in the McCarthy era in order to sit alone in the theater to watch black-listed performers. He was for women’s rights before that issue was popular, and against the Vietnam War before the rest of the country came to agree with him.
One of his proudest moments was when he brought a case before the United States Supreme Court in an effort to curb the influence of the teacher’s unions. Had he won that case, he felt that our education system would have been improved for all of us.
He spent his last years working to influence the direction of the Lutheran church, away from ritual, and toward the principles of faith. Whether you agreed with him or not, he was a man of principles, and set a fine example for his sons.
Preceding him in death were his parents; and his sister, Sigfried Heiner.
Morgan is survived by his wife, Margaret of almost 50 years; and four sons, Karl (Sheri) of Highland Park, N.J., Paul (Annette) of Bloomington, Darwin of Boise, Idaho, and Mark (Karis) of Rochester; five grandchildren, Nathan, James, Joshua, Erik and Annika; and a host of friends.
There was no limit to Morgan’s commitment to family. He loved God, his family and friends who also love him.
Visitation: One hour prior to services at the church
Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, at First Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Revs. Matt Philaya, Norman Olsen and Marshall Moen
Funeral Home: Faith and Hope Funeral Home, Fergus Falls

n Condolences: www.faithandhopefuneralhome.com