Benedict "BJ" Bjerken of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, surrounded by his family at the age of 72. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM, Monday, January 12, 2015 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN, with Father Rick Lambert presiding. At a later date, burial will be held at St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN. A visitation will be held from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM, with a 5:00 PM Prayer Service on Sunday, January 11, 2015, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Benedict "BJ" Julius Bjerken was born on December 17, 1942 in Mahnomen, MN, on the Walz family farm, the son of Julius Orville and Eleanor Marie (Walz) Bjerken. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Mahnomen. Ben attended St. Michaels Catholic School through 8th grade. He graduated from Mahnomen High School in 1960 and furthered his education at the Thief River Falls AVTI with a degree in business. On June 23, 1962 Ben was united in marriage to Virginia Kay Morrison at Waubun, MN. They made their home in Thief River Falls and raised their five children: Pam, Bill, Christy, Lisa, and Becky. Ben's career started at a young age - his first job was a paper route, then he "risked his life" as a pin-setter at the local bowling alley, as well as working on the family farm. After graduation Ben began his career in agriculture working on the docks for Land O'Lakes Feed and Seed before becoming a longtime manager where he remained until retirement from CHS Ag Services. During the early years he worked a second job as a bartender at the Eagle's Club. Ben's favorite pastimes included camping, fishing, hunting at da'shack, snowmobiling, and social hour. Golfing, hot tubbing, pontooning, traveling, spending time with his family and friends at the lake cabin and going to lunch were his favorite activities in his later years. He was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church, St. Anne's Catholic Church in Naytahwaush, the Elk's, Eagle's where he is a past president, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion of Thief River Falls. Ben will be remembered for his big heart, generosity, quick wit, funny clichés, stories, family-comes-first way of life, and always being welcomed into his home. Ben is survived by his mother Eleanor Bjerken of Mahnomen, MN; children Pam (Wade) Welkener of Houston, TX, Bill (Cheri) Bjerken of Moorhead, MN, Christy (Dave) Sorenson, Lisa (Chuck) Simenson both of Thief River Falls, MN, and Becky (Dayton) Hulst of Moorhead, MN; daughter by heart Rachael (Martin) Moeglein of Thief River Falls; grandchildren Jill (Tom) Isaac, Tiffany Sorenson, Conrad (Minami) Klinkhammer, Tyler Bjerken, Zach Sorenson, Jesse Bjerken, Dani and Riley Simenson, Brianna Bjerken, Madison Welkener, Alexis Hulst, Beth Hulst, Tori Welkener, Sami Hulst, Gabrielle Welkener, and Sophia Welkener; great-grandchildren Makena Bjerken and Brock Isaac; brothers and sister John Bjerken, Dee (Ron) Winter both of Thief River Falls, and Dennis (Shirley) Bjerken of Moorhead, MN; sisters-in-law Geri Walz of West Fargo, ND, and Karin Reese of Anchorage, AK; special friend Gloria Roux of Fosston, MN; many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. Preceding him in death is his wife Virginia; father Julius; grandparents Gustav and Nettie Bjerken, and Benedict and Elizabeth Walz; father-in-law William Morrison; mother-in-law Shirley Haugen; step father-in-law Harvey Haugen; brother-in-law Tony Walz; sister-in-law Judy Bjerken and nephew Brian Bjerken.