Marion Jergenson, 89, of Bricelyn

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 16, 2006

Marion &8220;Sparky&8221; Jergenson, age 89, of Bricelyn, died Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester from complications of a stroke.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Bricelyn Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Ed Nieman officiating. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn and one hour before the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery in Seely Township, Faribault County, with military honors by the Bricelyn American Legion Post.

Sparky Jergenson was born on May 22, 1917, in Eagle Grove, Iowa, the son of George and Malinda (Peterson) Jergenson. He grew up and attended school in Alden and worked at Alden Creamery for several years. During WW II he served in the U.S. Army for 3 1/2 years in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged and received the Bronze Star. He married Alice Budach on Oct. 9, 1945, in Wells. They have lived on the family farm in Seely Township for over 60 years. He was a member of Bricelyn Lutheran Church where he had served as a trustee, and was a member of the Bricelyn American Legion Post for almost 60 years. He served on the Seely Township Board for 25 years, and had served on the Bricelyn Co-op Elevator Board. He enjoyed playing cards, gardening, hunting, and helped for many years with the barbecued chicken for the July Fourth celebration in Bricelyn. Sparky especially enjoyed time spent with his family; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were his pride and joy.

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He is survived by his wife, Alice of Bricelyn, three children: Duane (wife Lyn) Jergenson of Minneapolis; Dick (wife Beverly) Jergenson of Minnetonka; and Debbie Jergenson of Eagan, Minn. Four grandchildren: Tamara (husband Peter) Wold; Michael, Cari, and Matt Jergenson. Four great-grandchildren: Harrison, Greta, Asa, and Charlotte Wold. Three sisters: Evelyn Novak of Blooming Prairie; Violet Hoeg of Wells, and Doris (husband Gerald) Petersen of Alden; two brothers: Roger (wife Anne) Jergenson of Albert Lea, and Obert (wife LaVonne) Jergenson of Rochester, Minn. and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a great-grandson in infancy, Owen, one sister, Francis and her husband Clarence Beckmann, two brothers-in-law: Joseph Novak and Donald Hoeg.