Gordon L Bickle, 86, Minneapolis
Published 3:51 pm Saturday, March 2, 2013
Gordon L Bickle, 86, of Minneapolis, formerly of Albert Lea, died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his children. Gordon had battled a number of health issues for several years prior to his passing.
Gordon Bickle
Gordon was born July 16, 1926, in Miles City, Mont., the eldest child of Ralph Emil Bickle and Teresa Cahill Bickle.
Gordon married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie S. Viall, at the age of 18 while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following the war, the couple made their home for many years in Miles City where Gordon began his career with the First National Bank.
As Gordon’s career with First Bank Systems (now U.S. Bank) flourished, Marjorie managed their home and raised their five children. Eventually the couple left Miles City as Gordon accepted transfer promotions. They moved to Bismarck, N.D. in 1965; La Crosse, Wis., in 1971, and Albert Lea in 1973.
His time in Albert Lea was among his favorites. He was named president and chairman of the Freeborn National Bank, now US Bank, where he oversaw the building of the facility in which the bank is currently located. He was active in his church, St. Theodore’s Catholic Church and the Albert Lea County Club.
In 1983, Gordon was named president and chairman of the board of directors of the U.S. Bank in Miles City and the couple returned to their hometown. Gordon was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the Elks and Eagles Lodges, the Miles City Club, and the Town & Country Club. He loved to play golf and talk politics.
In 2005, because of declining health, Gordon and Marjorie moved to Minneapolis to be near their children.
Survivors include a daughter, Gay Lynn Klein of La Crosse, Wis.; a son, Gregory L. Bickle and his wife, Lisa of Denver; a son, Ronald E. Bickle and his wife Vicki of Shakopee; a daughter, Barbara Ann and her husband Paul Wendorff of Eden Prairie; a son-in-law, Michael Dufner of Redwood City, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Marjorie, his wife of 67 years, and his daughter Catherine Marie. He will be greatly missed.
A private service was held at Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie with interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.
