Maynard Bjerke

Maynard W. Bjerke, age 88, of Breckenridge, MN, formerly of Kent, MN, passed away on Friday, February 18, 2022, at his home under the care of CHI Health at Home Hospice, with his wife Diane (Emery), son Evan, and his dog Pixell by his side.  Pastor Ken Adams will officiate his funeral service on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at United Church of Christ in Wahpeton, ND at 2:00 pm with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

Maynard was born on July 10, 1933, to John and Pearl (Stokes) Bjerke at Ft. Ransom, ND.  His many hobbies included reading and fixing up old sleds, push mowers, and fiddles.  He loved music, and he even took fiddle lessons for a while.  He was a very talented mechanic, having graduated from Hansen’s Mechanical School. For a time, he ran a Texaco service station in Abercrombie, ND, and then Bjerke’s Auto Repair in Rosholt, SD.  His last job was with Red River Telephone in Abercrombie.  He spent many hours cleaning up old tools, especially monkey wrenches.  He was an avid gardener and enjoyed sharing what he grew with others.  Maynard loved flowers, in which roses were his favorite.

Maynard married Diane Emery on December 4, 1982.  After moving to town, he and Diane spent many hours driving around looking at flowers and vegetable gardens.  He loved having his grandson Robert, and his family next door, getting to know his great-granddaughters and watching them play with daughter Holly’s kids.  It was a blessing that the two of them could talk about all of their common interests and add to their collections

Maynard and Diane enjoyed going to auctions, flea markets, antique shops, and rummage sales.  His favorite place to take his family was Ft. Ransom Sodbuster Days, where they all enjoyed the horse drawn farming, all the engines, tools, and blacksmithing exhibitions.  There he would visit with old friends and family enjoying the rommegrot, ice cream, lefsa, and knoephla soup. He especially loved Holly’s knoephla soup.  He loved to eat! He even stopped by the Richland Church after getting out of the hospital to eat his share of lutefisk and Evan learned to fix lutefisk so Maynard could have it anytime he wanted.

During the last year, Evan and Maynard made many trips to Farm City and Walmart to collect tractors and look at tools.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one brother, and many other family members.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home.

Maynard Bjerke's Memorial Folder