Services for Gelloyd Bjerke
Sat, 03/01/2025 - 12:21pm
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Gelloyd Bjerke, 94, of Gonvick, MN died on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the McIntosh Senior Living in McIntosh, Minnesota.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the United Lutheran Church in Berner, Minnesota. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Cease Family Funeral Home Chapel. A prayer service will take place at 6:30 pm. Interment will be held at the Seljord Lutheran Cemetery at Clearbrook, Minnesota in the spring.
Gelloyd was born on June 13, 1930, the son of Adolph and Hulda (Torgerson) Bjerke. Gelloyd entered the United States Army on February 21, 1952, and was honorably discharged on February 21, 1953, because the death of his parents and he was needed at home to help the family. Later, he moved to the Cities and worked at F. M. C. for 25 years. He married Fay Sundquist on September 4, 1959. After his retirement in 1979, the family moved to Gonvick. At 50 years old, Gelloyd and Fay purchased land and started their own business, growing sod for landscaping, and retired in 2002. The business “Bjerke and Sons Sod” is still running to this day. Gelloyd was known as “The Sod Father” which was his nickname for many years. Gelloyd enjoyed bowling, tinkering in his shop on tractors and other various equipment, and going to the Casino. He liked to play cards, especially the game of “31”, which he and his family played thousands of games. With their competitive spirit, they kept track of all wins and losses of every single game. It goes to say that everyone knew Gelloyd’s favorite saying…” I’ll be damned”.
Gelloyd is survived by his loving wife of 65 years - Fay (Sundquist) Bjerke; children- Gregory (Lori) Bjerke, Scott Bjerke, Bradley Bjerke, and Kari (Martin Ubert) Bjerke Klema; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren; Siblings- Kenneth (Lois) Bjerke, Julie (Pat) Connell, and Laverne (Judy) Bjerke; and sister-in-law - Lois Bjerke.
Gelloyd is preceded in death by his parents - Adolph and Hulda Bjerke; infant daughters - Cheryl Elenore and Diane Julie Bjerke; grandson - Jesse Bjerke; infant grandchildren - Chad Bergman, Thomas Bjerke, and Brent Bjerke; and his siblings- Alvina, Adeline, Darlene and Rudy.
