1912
Dorothy
2011
Dorothy Bjorgaard
July 3, 1912 — July 8, 2011
Dorothy Bjorgaard, of Fergus Falls, formerly of Amor, died Friday, July 8, 2011, at the age of 99, at Heartland Pioneer Senior Cottages in Fergus Falls. She had been so wonderfully and lovingly care for there the 9½ years of her life.
Dorothy Mae Malcolm was born July 3, 1912 at Elrod, SD. She was one of eight children born to Melvin E. and Alberta (Bennet) Malcolm. She moved with her family to a farm in the Basswood area as a child. There she grew up and received her education.
She met Oscar E. Bjorgaard of Amor and they were married on May 21, 1934 at Sisseton, SD. They made their home at Amor, farming and raising their three children. Dorothy was a baptized member of Zion Lutheran Church of Amor. The family was very active in their church and community. Dorothy was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.
Following Oscar's death December 22, 1971, she stayed on the farm for 15 years spending her winters in Naples, FL. Because of her health, she moved from the farm to Fergus Falls in 1987 and lived at Riverbend Apartments the next 15 years. In 2002, at the age of 90, she became a resident of Heartland Cottages.
Dorothy was a very independent and self-sufficient person all her life. In her younger years, she enjoyed cooking and baking, gardening and sewing. She especially enjoyed quilting and made many quilts for her family members. She also made many, many quilt tops for Zion's WELCA Lutheran World Relief quilting project.
Dorothy was blessed to live a long and interesting life, being able to maintain good, health, a very keen mind and sense of humor until her last year. She learned to drive a car after the age of 50. She worked at the Ottertail Nursing home as an aide and also was a waitress at her brother's café. Dorothy was the last surviving member of her generation in both the Malcolm and Bjorgaard families.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Oscar in 1971; her son-in-law, Merle Erlandson in 2007; her infant granddaughter, Angel Bjorgaard in 1973; two brothers, Philip and Donald Malcolm; five sisters, Lila Esttick, Viola Hunter, Eunice Ash, Susan Sorum and Katherine Dunker.
Dorothy is survived by her two sons, Lowell Melvin (Lois) and Robert James (Karen) Bjorgaard of Amor; her daughter, Janice Ione Erlandson of Fergus Falls; her seven grandchildren were a great joy to her and will serve as her pallbearers for their grandmother: Lowell Bjorgaard, Jr of Amor, Shannon (Lyn) Bjorgaard of Fergus Falls, Sharon Erlandson (George) Nelson of Ashby, Alan (Sandra) and Wayne (Dayna) Erlandson of Fergus Falls, Jean Bjorgaard (Micheal) Guck of Richville and Julie Bjorgaard (Larry) Buchholz of Fergus Falls; 17 great grandchildren; two great-great grandsons and a host of nieces and nephews.
Dorothy's children would like to thank the Heartland Pioneer Senior Cottages for 9½ years of unbelievable care. The management and staff are so awesome and loving in their care of the memory and behaviorally challenged residents.
Funeral Services: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Zion Lutheran Church of Amor, rural Battle Lake
Visitation: the only visitation will be one hour prior to the service
Clergy: Rev. James Gronbeck, Intern Pastor Phil Roushe and Chaplain Harry Olson
Cemetery: Zion Cemetery of Amor
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com
Dorothy Mae Malcolm was born July 3, 1912 at Elrod, SD. She was one of eight children born to Melvin E. and Alberta (Bennet) Malcolm. She moved with her family to a farm in the Basswood area as a child. There she grew up and received her education.
She met Oscar E. Bjorgaard of Amor and they were married on May 21, 1934 at Sisseton, SD. They made their home at Amor, farming and raising their three children. Dorothy was a baptized member of Zion Lutheran Church of Amor. The family was very active in their church and community. Dorothy was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.
Following Oscar's death December 22, 1971, she stayed on the farm for 15 years spending her winters in Naples, FL. Because of her health, she moved from the farm to Fergus Falls in 1987 and lived at Riverbend Apartments the next 15 years. In 2002, at the age of 90, she became a resident of Heartland Cottages.
Dorothy was a very independent and self-sufficient person all her life. In her younger years, she enjoyed cooking and baking, gardening and sewing. She especially enjoyed quilting and made many quilts for her family members. She also made many, many quilt tops for Zion's WELCA Lutheran World Relief quilting project.
Dorothy was blessed to live a long and interesting life, being able to maintain good, health, a very keen mind and sense of humor until her last year. She learned to drive a car after the age of 50. She worked at the Ottertail Nursing home as an aide and also was a waitress at her brother's café. Dorothy was the last surviving member of her generation in both the Malcolm and Bjorgaard families.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Oscar in 1971; her son-in-law, Merle Erlandson in 2007; her infant granddaughter, Angel Bjorgaard in 1973; two brothers, Philip and Donald Malcolm; five sisters, Lila Esttick, Viola Hunter, Eunice Ash, Susan Sorum and Katherine Dunker.
Dorothy is survived by her two sons, Lowell Melvin (Lois) and Robert James (Karen) Bjorgaard of Amor; her daughter, Janice Ione Erlandson of Fergus Falls; her seven grandchildren were a great joy to her and will serve as her pallbearers for their grandmother: Lowell Bjorgaard, Jr of Amor, Shannon (Lyn) Bjorgaard of Fergus Falls, Sharon Erlandson (George) Nelson of Ashby, Alan (Sandra) and Wayne (Dayna) Erlandson of Fergus Falls, Jean Bjorgaard (Micheal) Guck of Richville and Julie Bjorgaard (Larry) Buchholz of Fergus Falls; 17 great grandchildren; two great-great grandsons and a host of nieces and nephews.
Dorothy's children would like to thank the Heartland Pioneer Senior Cottages for 9½ years of unbelievable care. The management and staff are so awesome and loving in their care of the memory and behaviorally challenged residents.
Funeral Services: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Zion Lutheran Church of Amor, rural Battle Lake
Visitation: the only visitation will be one hour prior to the service
Clergy: Rev. James Gronbeck, Intern Pastor Phil Roushe and Chaplain Harry Olson
Cemetery: Zion Cemetery of Amor
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com
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