Gordon Skjerven, 84, passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Oakland Park Communities in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Viking Covenant Church in Viking, MN with Pastor Jim Robberstad officiating. Burial will follow at Viking Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Wednesday at the church.

Gordon R. Skjerven was born October 2, 1925 in Fertile Township, Walsh County, ND near Grafton on the Skjerven family farm. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith and attended country school in Fertile Township. Gordon worked on the family farm and also worked for neighbor farmers.

He met Adelle Heddan while working in the potato fields. They were married on June 30, 1948 in Grafton, ND. They lived on the Skjerven family farm for a few years and in 1952 they bought a farm in Viking Township where they continued to reside. To this union six children were born, Terry, Kathleen, Gordon, Corey, Mary Beth, & Randy.

They owned and operated their farm which included small grains, milk cows and beef cattle and they enjoyed life on the farm raising their family. Gordon was very mechanical and was a jack of all trades. He was able to fix all of his own machinery, or handle the electrical or plumbing on the farm. Gordon also worked at the Viking Elevator. He retired from farming in the early 1990s.

He enjoyed snowmobiling and fishing over the years; but especially enjoyed spending Sunday afternoons with his family at the farm. That tradition continued even after Gordon entered the nursing home in 2003. Gordon was a quiet man who dearly loved his family. He never really disciplined his kids and enjoyed saying, go ask your mother.

He attended the Viking Covenant Church in Viking; Gordon served on the Viking Township Board, Viking School Board, and the Viking Creamery Board.

Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Adelle of Thief River Falls; five children, Kathleen (Daniel) Olson of Viking, MN, Gordy (Jane) Skjerven of Mendota Heights, MN, Corey (Julie) Skjerven of Thief River Falls, MN, Mary (Arnold) Weleski of Viking, MN, and Randy (Christine) Skjerven of Grand Forks, ND; 16 grandchildren, Tricia (Darin) Lee, Timothy (Alisha) Olson, Terry (Stacy) Olson, Benjamin Skjerven, Karen (Joe) Wing, Courtney (fianc, Joni Newton) Skjerven, Casey (Anna) Skjerven, Justin (Michelle) Skjerven, Melissa (fianc, Chris Kolle) Skjerven, Anthony (Melissa) Weleski, Bethany Weleski, Megan Weleski, Kelsey Weleski, Nicholas Skjerven, Christopher Skjerven and Natalie Skjerven; 12 great-grandchildren; three brothers and sister, Harvey (June) Skjerven of Grafton, ND, Arnold (Evelyn) Skjerven of Newfolden, MN, Arlene (Earl) Rachac of Fargo, ND and Dean (Leah) Skjerven of Park River, ND; sister-in-law, Ruby Skjerven of Grafton, ND; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Terry on February 28, 1963; two brothers, Ernie and Hilmer.