Bjerke, Nelda Marie was born July 20, 1932 to Joseph and Nelda (Ackert) Stump in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She passed away on January 28, 2018 at Point Look Out Nursing Home in Hollister, Missouri. Finally free from her dreaded dementia, she is at home with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her husband of 67 years, Kenneth, plus many other family members and friends. She attended Augustana Academy in high school where she met the love of her life Kenny whom she married April 29, 1950 in Lily, South Dakota. Over the years Nelda and Kenny lived in South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota (Duluth, Minneapolis, Buffalo, Anoka, Madelia and Paynesville), Arkansas and they enjoyed a one year stay in France. Later in life they wintered in Arizona. She loved organic gardening, flower arranging, garage sales, antiquing, playing cards, skiing, polka & square dancing, the color blue and most of all her family. While living in Buffalo she was involved in the Buffalo Covenant Church young adults and teens where she met many lifelong wonderful friends, Nelda also spent many years working at the elementary school kitchen with ladies she had such a great time with that it seemed like more fun than work. She will be deeply missed by her 5 daughters: Debbie (Dean) Markuson of Pequot Lakes, MN; Sandra (Grayling) Trees of Marseille, France; Marcia Englund of St. Paul, MN; Becky Ann (Jeff) Olson of Hollister, MO; Bonnie (Lionel) Callies of Hollister, MO; 11 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild. Sister JoAnn Jergensen of Silverdale, Wa, Sister-in-law Dorey Gross of Clark, SD; brother-in-law Dunk (Elva) Bjerke of Watertown, SD; sister-in-law Roxy (Dale) Streckfuss of Mansfield, SD; sister-in-law Sharon Bjerke of Clark, SD; brother-in-law Bill Schaefbauer of Souix Falls, SD. She was preceeded in death by: her husband of 67 years Kenneth Bjerke, parents Reverend Joseph & Nelda Stump, brother-in-law Rev. Arnold Jergenson, brother-in-law Little Joey Bjerke; sister-in-law Faye Johnson; brother-in-law Jim Bjerke; sister-in-law Becky Schaefbauer; brother-in-law John Johnson; brother-in-law John Gross; and in-laws Carl and Olga Bjerke. Funeral services will be held at the Buffalo Covenant Church in May. (date and time to be announced)

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