GISELA BJERKE

Gisela Bjerke, 81 of Fargo, ND formerly of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Friday morning, April 5, 2013 at Essentia Health in Fargo. Funeral Services for Gisela will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake at 11:00 on Wednesday, April 10th with Fr. Anthony Hession officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Devils Lake. Please join us for lunch and fellowship at St. Joseph Parish Center immediately following the graveside service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Gisela will be Alan Bjerke, Curtis Bjerke, Kenny Bjerke, Kyle Bjerke, Boyd Bjerke and Jerry Sieg. Gisela, daughter of Joseph and Margarita (Fries) Rösler was born on February 8, 1932 in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. She was raised and educated in Germany. Gisela met her future husband, Boyd A. Bjerke while he was serving with the US Army in Germany. They were united in marriage on January 28, 1959 in Mainz, Germany. Gisela came to the United States, arriving in New York on July 4th, 1960. As a military wife, the family lived many places through the years. They lived in El Paso, Texas for 4 years where Alan and Curtis were born. When Boyd was sent to Korea, Gisela and the two boys moved to the Mayville/Portland area of North Dakota for 13 months. When Boyd’s tour of duty in Korea ended, the family made their home in Ft. Mead, Maryland and then one year later moved to Virginia. When duty called Boyd to Vietnam, the family remained in Virginia and upon his return to the states their family moved to Germany where Kenny was born. This was home for the next four years. In 1972 the family moved to Ft. Richie, Maryland. In 1976 when Boyd retired from the Army, an ROTC teaching position opened in Devils Lake. They made Devils Lake their permanent home where Boyd passed away on March 31, 1988. While living in Devils Lake Gisela worked as a CNA at the Good Samaritan Center for over 25 years, retiring in 2001. She was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary. First and foremost, Gisela was a devoted wife and mother. With each move there were many challenges, but she always provided a loving home for her family and welcomed new friends and old friends to share many happy times together. She loved to crochet and shared her many beautiful creations with family and friends. Gisela is survived by her loving sons: Alan Bjerke and his wife Cindy of Seattle, Washington, Curtis Bjerke and his wife, Brenda of Boise, Idaho and Kenny Bjerke and his wife Cecilia of Fargo, ND; 8 grandchildren: Lindsey, Katie and Kyle, Boyd, Ann and Elizabeth, Hailey and Sophie; three step grandchildren: Kyle, Kiersten and Brandon; sister: Brigitte Taltugum of Mainz, Germany as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Boyd.