Olga Bjerke

Olga Bjerke, 92, of Ulen, MN died Friday, Dec, 25, 2009 in the Viking Manor Nursing Home in Ulen. Olga Laurensa Orwald was born May 24, 1917, the daughter of Theodore and Aase (Skeim) Orwald northeast of Ulen. She was the youngest of 10 children and was raised the the help of her older siblings when her father passed away when she was one year old. Olga was baptized and attended country school near Ulen and was confirmed at First South Wild Rice Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ulen. On November 13, 1936, Olga was united in marriage to Nile Bjerke at Ulen. The couple resided on several farmsteads near Ulen before purchasing the William Bjerke farm west of Ulen. During their marriage, they farmed and milked cows. Besides raising her family and tending to the farm, Olga was an avid gardener and spent many hours canning. She was a wonderful cook and would bake fresh bread and cakes daily for her family. After their retirement I the fall of 1976, they moved to Felton where Olga worked at the Senior Center for several years. They later moved to Ulen where she began working at the Ulen Senior Center. Nile passed away in June of 1989 and Olga continued to live in her home until she entered the Northern Lights Assisted Living apartments. On July 1, 2008, Olga became a resident of the Ulen Viking Manor where she lived until the time of her death. Survivors include five daughters, Norma (Waldo) Hilde, Alvina (Tim) Newman and Debbie Pollock all of Moorhead, MN, Carol (Robert) Ellingson, Hawley, MN and Eileen (Dusty) Karsten, Ulen, MN; two sons, Wayne of Fargo, ND and Duane (Connie) Hitterdal, MN; 28 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and five great- great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughters, Clarice and Orpha, an infant daughter, five brothers, four sisters, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 11:00am in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ulen, MN. Visitation was from 4:00pm until 7:00pm with a family service at 6:00pm at the church. Officiating was Pastor Steve Dahl with Carol Lockhart serving as organist and Steve Lunde serving as vocalist. Pallbearers were all of her granddaughters. Burial was in West Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Ulen.

Olga Bjerke

May 24, 1917 - December 25, 2009