Blenda Gregerson

Blenda Gregerson, age 97, of Ulen, Minnesota, found peace with the Lord, Monday, August 01, 2011 in Viking Manor Nursing Home, Ulen. Blenda Genevieve Knutson was born November 1, 1913, to Knute (1878-1962) and Christine (Renslow) (1883-1977) Knutson. Blenda was one of four children, Orris (1910-1987), Carla Hammer (1918-1999) and Kenneth (1923-2011). Some of her earliest memories are of visiting her grandparents, Ole and Bergit (Brenna) Renslow’s home for Sunday dinners and Christmas Day. Blenda married Tilford Gregerson on October 20, 1934. At that time Blenda had three living grandparents; they were Ole (1854-1937) and Bergit (1862-1950) (Brenna) Renslow and Gurine (1852-1945) Knutson. The newlyweds lived at Twin Valley for a few years. Joan was born while they lived there. They moved to a farm and farmed just east of the Keene School House, where Keith and Virginia were both born. They were very active in the Keene Church. Blenda was a pianist. They sang duets and sang in the church choir. Blenda was very busy with child-rearing, homemaking, gardening and somehow found time to run the June grass stripper. Later they moved east of Ulen where they lived when Ruth was born, during one of the worst winters for snow, the road east of Ulen was blocked shortly after Christmas until March. Tilford had to leave their car in town, as did the neighbors. Blenda stayed in Moorhead so Ruth could be born in the hospital. Shortly after Leva Wiger’s death in 1949, they bought her home in Ulen. Tilford and Blenda lived there until he passed away in 1992. Blenda continued to live there until moving to her Northern Lights Assisted living Apartment in 2001. Blenda was active in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, pianist and officer of the Ladies Aid. Blenda worked for many businesses in Ulen: Pederson’s Store, at local restaurants, and in the late 1950’s, at the Ulen Lefse Plant, baking lefse. During most of these years, Tilford was a caterpillar operator until his retirement. Blenda and Tilford enjoyed traveling after their retirement. They took vacations with Keith in July through the southwest, northwest and out to Washington D.C. to visit families and friends. Every chance they could, they took “day trips” with or without family members for visiting or just sightseeing. Blenda had an excellent memory and enjoyed reminiscing about her extended family and other past residents of the area. She wrote many of the family histories for the Ulen Centennial Book. She enjoyed many Renslow, Hilde and Halgrimson family reunions over the years and going out to eat with her cousins when they had their yearly get togethers. An exciting time for her was being the eldest family member on her 2003 trip to Keene, North Dakota for a Brenna family reunion. Blenda was well known for her dry wit and one-line zingers, which often caught people off guard. Blenda is survived by a son, Keith (Judy) Gregerson of Fargo, ND; three daughters, Joan (George) Wells of Ulen, MN, Virginia Fasteen of Moorhead, MN and Ruth Berg of St. Cloud, MN; a sister-in-law, Mable Christensen of Twin Valley, MN; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, 22 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, Orris and Kenneth “Skippy”, a sister, Carla Hammer, grandsons, David and Steven Larson and a granddaughter, Nancy Jean Fasteen. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 6 at 11:00 AM in Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 PM with a Prayer Service at 6:30 all at the church. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday. Officiating will be Pastor Steve Dahl with special music provided by Susan Green and Carol Lockhart. Pallbearers will be Henry Lewis, Donald Larson, John Green, George Wells, Jr., Kevin Gregerson, Robert Gregerson, Edward Hague, Gavin Lewis, Michael Dempsey, Joel Rinke and Matt Peters. Burial will be in North Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Ulen.

Blenda Gregerson

November 1, 1913 - August 1, 2011