Gary A. Bjerke

Gary A. Bjerke, age 77 of Grafton, ND passed away Thursday, October 13, 2016 at the Altru Hospital of Grand Forks, ND.

Gary A. Bjerke was born May 7, 1939 in Grafton, ND, the son of the late Almer and Irene (Rassmussen) Bjerke. He graduated from Grafton High School in 1958 and then attended Mayville State College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1960 and was honorably discharged in 1963. After his discharge he moved between Iowa and North Dakota where he drove truck for his father with Bjerke Trucking and uncle, Jerry Adrian with Adrian Carriers. Gary was united in marriage to Renee Wood on December 23, 1968 in Rock Island, Illinois. The couple made their home in Iowa and North Dakota, returning to North Dakota in 2002, where they continued to make their home and Gary worked at Marvin Windows until his retirement in 2012.

He was a member of the Grafton Lutheran Church. He liked to fish and loved sports. He was inducted into the Mayville State College Athletic Hall of Fame for playing baseball in 2015. He loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Gary is survived by his wife, Renee Bjerke, Grafton, ND; his children: Karee Stubbs, San Francisco, CA; Kim (David) Brekke, Windsor, CO; Kory Bjerke, Grafton, ND; Kristan (Darren) Demers, Grafton, ND; grandchildren: Kody Brekke, Wyatt, Walker and Willow Demers; siblings: Darlene (Raymond) Dipple, Grafton, ND; David (Annie) Bjerke, Emerado, ND; Suellen (Calvin) Ferguson, Grafton, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister and grandson, Adam.

Memorial services will be Friday, October 21, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M at the funeral home. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion Post 41 and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.