Jerry Bisek

Jerry Bisek, age 96, of Mahnomen, MN, died on Wednesday, 23rd of April, 2008, at Mahnomen Health Center. Jerry Paul Bisek was born to Paul and Magdalene (Flicek) Bisek on the 10th of July 1911 in New Prague, MN. His parents moved to Mahnomen area when Jerry was 2 years old. He attended Mahnomen schools and graduated in 1929. His dream was to become an electrical engineer but there was no money for that type of education. Jerry's alternative was to attend Moorhead State Teachers College in Moorhead, MN, where he got the standard two-year degree. Upon graduation, he didn't intend to teach but wondered what he would do. After applying to teach at a one-room school, he was offered a job at the Marsh Creek School for eight months at $40 a month. He was to teach grades one through eight. He stated that, "I worked harder than the kids. You depended on the children's cooperation and taking the teacher's advice on what they should read. It was very much like a home-taught school." After teaching only one year at the Marsh Creek School, Jerry was hired by the Bejou School Board. He worked for five years as Principal at the Bejou School. People had asked Jerry to run for the position of Mahnomen County's Superintendent of Schools. So he decided to run for the office. The Bejou School Board asked him to renew his contract with them but he declined telling them that he was going to run for the County Superintendent's position. The school board stated that that was good but that they would keep him on contract, anyway, and gave him a month off to campaign. They would have Jerry either way as their principal or their superintendent. That fall, November of 1938, Jerry Bisek was elected Mahnomen's County Superintendent. He took office in January of 1939 at the age of 28. Jerry spent four terms in that position. The small country schools began closing up and Jerry went back to the teaching field, first in Naytahwaush and then Ogema. He also became the Principal at Naytahwaush. He was Ogema's Principal for four years. He retired from the education field in 1966. In addition to teaching, Jerry farmed land in Pembina and Popple Grove Townships. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as their Financial Secretary for many years. Jerry also served for many years as Secretary-Treasurer for the Mahnomen County Fair Board. Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Vivian Hallstrom, on the 22nd of August, 1935. They were blessed with two girls, Jerine and Darlene. During all this time, Jerry and Vivian lived in the same house on the south side of Mahnomen. Surviving are Jerry's two daughters; Jerine (Lou) Polack of Plymouth, MN, and Darlene (Ron) Stong of Brooklyn Park, MN; eight grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. Jerry's surviving siblings are sisters: Beatrice Dusek, Martha Schilling and Mary (Babe) Christianson; sisters-in-law, Patricia Bisek and Gloria Bisek and brother-in-law, Conrad Christianson. In addition Jerry preceded his brother, Tom Bisek, in his recent death. Jerry was preceded in death by his sweetheart of 72 years, Vivian; his parents, Paul and Magdalene; two brothers, Frank and Paul; two brothers-in-law, Lewis Dusek and Trueman Schilling and all of Vivian's siblings and their spouses.

Jerry Bisek

July 10, 1911 - April 23, 2008