Roger J. Bjerketvedt, age 57, of Parkers Prairie, died Sunday, January 27, 2013, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 2, 2013, at St. Williams Catholic Church in Parkers Prairie with Fr. Herb Gappa officiating. Music will be provided by organist, Angie Thoennes and vocalist, David Koep. Burial will take place at the church cemetery.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Friday at the church with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. and parish prayers at 7 p.m. with Fr. LeRoy Scheierl presiding. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Roger Joseph Bjerketvedt was born July 22, 1955, to Roy and Helen (Schmidt) Bjerketvedt in Parkers Prairie. He was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Urbank. He grew up on the family farm in Effington Township and attended Country School District #1466 and Parkers Prairie High School. Following his education he worked numerous jobs in the Parkers Prairie area until traveling west to look for work. While out west, he worked at a uranium mine, drilled oil wells and most recently worked as meat cutter in Buffalo, Wyoming. Due to his failing health, Roger returned to Parkers Prairie in the summer of 2012, to be closer to family. He was a member of St. Williams Catholic Church and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Buffalo, Wyoming. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cribbage and cards. He especially enjoyed time spent with family and friends.
Roger is survived by his mother, Helen Bjerketvedt of Parkers Prairie; brother, Teddy (Gloria) Bjerketvedt; four sisters, Mary (Joe) Hellerman, Anne (Ronald) Koep, Doris (Gerard) Koep all of Parkers Prairie and Marsia (Greg) Kraemer of Evansville; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roy; special friend, Gayle Donahue; brother, Robert and sister, Jane.
Pallbearers will be Bryan Hellerman, Scott Bjerketvedt, John Schmidt, Jody Anderson, Shannon Bjerketvedt, Chris Koep, Richard Stich and Pat Schmidt.