Gerald (Jerry) Arthur Wigness, a longtime resident of Thief River Falls, MN passed away peacefully at Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji, MN Sunday April 12th 2026 surrounded by family. He and his wife Marilyn have been living in Bemidji since September of 2020. He was a beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather/great grandfather and trusted friend to many. He was 90 years old.

Jerry was born February 21st, 1936 in Crosby, ND to Porter and Charlotte (Leininger) Wigness and grew up on a farm near Fortuna, ND, a tiny town in the farthest NW corner of North Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and completed high school in 1953 in Crosby at 17 years old.

He continued his education at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, graduating in 1957 with a B.S. in Business Education and a minor in History & Social Studies. He was also active in the Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) at UND which led him to a two-year stint in the military, entering as a 2nd Lieutenant Infantry in Fort Benning, GA and completed his service as a 1st Lieutenant in 1959 in Fort Carson, CO as an Instructor of Basic Training to new recruits. He further went on to serve in the MN National Guard in 1960 and was discharged in 1967 as Captain, Infantry.

He met the love of his life, Marilyn, on a blind date in his sophomore year in Grand Forks - she was a “hot snappy little number”, per Jerry, from Grafton, ND studying at the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing. They married June 9th, 1957.

Mer & Jer, as they are affectionately known, made their way to Thief River Falls, MN in 1960 as he accepted a teaching job at Lincoln Sr. High School, as well as summer school courses at the Area Vocational Technical Institute. He was interested in trying something outside of teaching, took a leave and worked at Northwestern Hospital and then Union State Bank, eventually returning to the AVTI as the Chairman of the Business Education Department in 1967. He served on the city council from 1967 to 1971. In 1972, Jerry accepted the position of City Clerk Treasurer for Thief River Falls where he remained until he retired in 1994.

Jerry was quite civic minded and served various other organizations in the Thief River Falls area:

Rotary Club (President 1995-96), Elks Club (received Distinguished Citizenship Award 2003), the American Legion, Jobs Incorporated, Thief River Concert Association, League of MN Cities BOD (1972-73 & Ambassador 1997-2004), National Guard Citizens Committee, Fundraising co-chair (with Marilyn) for Ralph Engelstad Arena, Minnesota Community Development Corporation (BOD chair in 2002), Secretary Treasurer of Northern Municipal Power Agency (1976-1996), Midwest Northwest Medical Center BOD (1997-2006), and a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the church choir and, very importantly, co-chair with Marilyn of the Trinity Lutefisk Dinners…. He had a file, 5 inches thick, documenting where to find the best lutefisk across the state. Not every dad has one of these.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of nearly 69 years, Marilyn, daughter Kim (Doug) Williams of Bemidji, son Michael (Laura) of Boise, ID, son Steven (Cathy) of Chanhassen, MN, 10 grandchildren, Baret (Dane), Kari (Mark), Marin (Dustin), Maggie (Whitney), Paden (Emma), Bailey, Drew (Sarah), Sam (Amy), Dylan (Kelsi), Nicole (Chris), 13 great grandchildren, beloved younger sister Susan (Carl) Dahl of Bismarck, ND, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Porter & Charlotte of Fortuna ND, sister Sharon Thompson of Glasgow, MT, brothers Arden of Fortuna, ND, and Porter Alan of Glasgow, MT.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM with the funeral service to be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 325 Horace Avenue North, Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Christy Klemz officiating. Burial is at Greenwood cemetery in Thief River Falls. Memorials suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN or to the Sanford Health WoodsEdge Campus in Bemidji, MN.

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com