Minnie Bjerke, 90, died on Monday, May 19, 2003 at Northwest Medical Center, CNC Unit, Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, May 24, 2003 at St. John Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend Donald Kirchner officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Friday, May 23, 2003 at the Johnson-Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 P.M. prayer service on Friday evening and at the church for one hour prior to services on Saturday.

Minnie Helen Rode was born on May 17, 1913 in Wentworth, SD, the daughter of Fred and Marie (Klostriech) Rode. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran Faith and attended school in the Red Lake Falls area. She worked for area farm families.

On October 29, 1939 Minnie was united in marriage to Julian Hanford Bjerke in Red Lake Falls, MN. The couple made their home in Thief River Falls for a short time. Then they moved to Duluth, MN, where they lived for three years. They returned to the family farm, where he raised turkeys and farmed with his father on the Bjerke Homestead.

Minnie worked as a cook and caterer at various places in Thief River Falls.

Minnie enjoyed bowling, gardening, quilting, fishing and raising wild turkeys and pheasants. She was well known in the area for her baked goods and lefse. Every year at the Christmas Church Bizarre she supplied her lefse, Swedish Tea Rings and other baked goods.

She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, where she was active in the Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the American Legion and the VFW Auxiliary

Minnie is survived by four children: Duane (Arlene) Bjerke of Thief River Falls, MN, Diana Vigstol of Red Lake Falls, MN, Donald Bjerke of Forest Lake, MN and Darla (Richard) Taddy of Boulder City, NV; nine grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; one brother, Johnny (LuAnn) Rode of Coos Bay, Oregon; one sister, Martha Casavan of California; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; twin granddaughters; one great granddaughter; three sisters; and four brother.