July 9, 2022 Family Reunion

 

So thankful for the memories!

Paul Prescher

 

Paul Prescher, age 75, of Delavan, passed away at his home on Monday, September 6, 2021. Funeral services will be on Sunday, September 19th at 2pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Blue Earth with Rev. Matthew Lorfeld officiating. Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 18thfrom 4-7pm at Patton Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service. Patton Funeral Home is trusted with the arrangements. www.PattonFH.com

Paul Frederick Prescher was born on June 3, 1946 to Arnold and Everald (Wood) Prescher.  He graduated from Delavan High School in 1964 and went into the National Guard. On April 12, 1969 Paul married Ruth Lord. Paul farmed most of his life and drove school bus for 25 years. Much of his free time was spent hunting, fishing, traveling, and watching sports with friends and family.

Paul acquired his pilot’s license and flew for recreation. Paul was a Barber Township Board Member for many years and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and held many positions there.

In 2007 Paul was injured in an accident that confined him to a wheelchair but he continued hunting as much as possible with a crossbow.

Paul is survived by his wife Ruth of 52 years; daughters, Rebecca (Daniel)Bump and Debra (Joshua) Runksmeier; grandchildren, Wyatt & Kaylie Bump, Caleb & Natalie Runksmeier; sisters, Lynn Cole, Cheryl Claude; sister-in-law Ruth Anne Lord and many nephews & nieces; Aunt Geneva Prescher (age 96) and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law; brothers-in-law Dennis Lord and Kenneth Claude.

Bernie Fjordbak

 Bernard “Bernie” Fjordbak, 66, of Benson died on Wednesday February 19, 2020 at Meadowlane Rehabilitation Healthcare Center in Benson. Visitation will be held Friday, March 13 from 5-7 p.m. and will continue on Saturday, March 14 from 9-10 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. Funeral Service, at First Evangelical Free Church in Benson. Interment will be in the Benson City Cemetery.

Bernard Wayne Fjordbak was born October 5, 1953 to Roger Wayne Fjordbak and Dorothy “Ruth” (Gennow) Fjordbak in Storm Lake, Iowa.  They moved to Benson, Minnesota in January 1960 and he lived on a farm east of Benson throughout his childhood.  After High School he went to Willmar Vo-Tech to learn carpentry and always loved that trade more than anything. He worked many jobs over his lifetime including carpentry and various types of trucking until he was unable to work due to illness.  He always loved helping people.  He enjoyed tinkering with small engines and building go karts to race on the farm.

Bernie was called from this life on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at Meadow Lane Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.  He was preceded in death by his father, Roger; younger brother, Roger Ray; grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

He leaves behind his 95 year old mother, “Ruth”; sisters: Beverly (Stewart) Benesh of Eagan, Brenda Fjordbak of Minneapolis, Rhonda (Dwaine “Gig’s”) Reich of Willmar, and Janet (Brian Gaida) Fjordbak of St. Cloud; nieces and nephews: Derek (Kimberly) Benesh, Deanna Benesh, Aaron (Kimberly) Reich, Alan Reich, and Shawna Reich; great step-niece, Kailee Greenough; great-nephew, Jameson Benesh; great-niece, Savannah Reich; his aunt, Ann Fjordbak of Dallas, Texas; and many loved cousins.

Bernie loved the Lord with all his heart and found intense joy in sharing his faith with everyone he met.  He will be missed. Until we meet again in Heaven – Love You Bud!

Brian Gaida

 Brian Peter Gaida

St. Cloud - Brian Peter Gaida, age 56, of St. Cloud died Sunday, June 7, at his home with his wife Janet by his side.

Brian was born on January 5th, 1964 in St. Cloud MN to Daniel and Rose (Winter). He graduated from Apollo HS in 1983.

Brian was a hard worker holding positions at Apollo, Bonanza, Fingerhut, Blue Stem and Aerotek.

He met the love of his life, Janet Fjordbak while working at Fingerhut. They enjoyed 25 years together.

Brian was fond of bonfires, the man cave in his garage, beer and the dogs that he and Janet had, Boxer, Daisy, Maggie and now Ruby.

He will be remembered as a loyal brother and friend who was always willing to lend a hand. He had a great appreciation for the simple life and comforts of home.

He is survived by his loving wife Janet, mother Rosie Gaida, his brothers and sisters Mary Patrice (James) Rector of Glasgow MT, Duane (Loyola) Gaida, Sue Berry and (Kevin Brooks), Karen (Bill) Storkamp, Dorene Gaida (Stan Storkamp), Mary Carol (Mark) Pflipsen of Burtrum, Gary (Sue) Kuefler and Janet's family including her mother Ruth.

Brian is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Special Thanks to his best friend of over 50 years, Paul Robinson, for all of the adventures, mischief and being a bonfire beer buddy. Thank you to St. Croix Hospice and Centracare staff for their support and care. Additional thanks to family and friends who helped so much during this time.

He was preceded in death by his father Daniel, and sisters Dawn and DeNile, father-in-law Roger W. of Benson and brother-in-laws Roger R. and Bernard. In lieu of flowers, memorials or cards of condolences can be sent to Janet Fjordbak, P.O. Box 5063, St. Cloud MN 56302.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Ruth Fjordbak

 D. Ruth Fjordbak, 95, of Benson died Friday, September 11, 2020 at Scandi Haven Village in Benson. Visitation will be held 10-11 am Friday, September 18th at First Evangelical Free Church in Benson, followed by the funeral service at 11 am. Interment will be in Benson City Cemetery.

Dorothy Ruth Fjordbak was born November 4, 1924 to John and Jennie Gennow in Sauk Centre, Minnesota where she completed her schooling through high school.

She worked at Montgomery Wards in St. Paul prior to her marriage to Roger Wayne Fjordbak in Truesdale, Iowa on July 6, 1948. They lived in Storm Lake, Iowa before moving to Benson on January 20, 1960 to farm and grow a huge garden until moving to town and living at Scofield Place and then Scandi Haven Village. She most enjoyed watching game shows and playing UNO and Skipbo. We had to watch her closely so she wouldn’t cheat! We had many laughs.

Roger and Ruth had six children: Bernard, Beverly, Brenda, Rhonda, Roger Ray, and Janet.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother Henry and sister Winnifred (Byron) Robeson; her husband Roger W.; sons Bernie and Roger Ray; and a son-in-law Brian Gaida.

She is survived by four daughters: Beverly (Stewart) Benesh of Eagan, Brenda (friend John Fosdick) Fjordbak of Roseville, Rhonda (Dwaine “Gig’s”) Reich of Willmar, and Janet Gaida of St. Cloud; grandchildren: Derek (Kimberly) Benesh, Deanna Benesh, Aaron (Kimberly) Reich, Alan Reich, and Shawna Reich; great-grandson Jameson Benesh; great-granddaughter Savannah Reich; and step-great-granddaughter Kailee Greenough.

We will miss you so much but glad you are no longer in pain.

Ann Fjordbak

Mary Annette Tarter Fjordbak 

Ann was born in Dallas on June 25, 1925 to Carlos Logan Tarter and Ruth Ann (Born Elsie) Skinner Tarter. She descended from a delightful blend of stubborn, stoic English, frugal Scottish and some proud Irish. Ann went to her heavenly home on July 7, 2021. 

As a youngster, Ann was a tomboy and once fell off the roof onto a spiked iron fence, with few lasting injuries. Her mother contracted tuberculosis when Ann and her sister Margie were young, so they were sent to an aunt’s home in Iowa until their mother recuperated. 

After graduating from Crozier Tech High School in Dallas, in college she met and married Everitt Merlin Fjordbak, who was studying for the ministry. After college, they pastored a new small church in Calumet Iowa then moved to Dallas for dad to do his graduate studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Ann worked briefly for Oilwell Supply Company and Everitt served as an assistant pastor in the Assemblies of God church, then they moved to Lancaster to develop a church plant. 

Mom organized the women while dad worked with the men to add on to a modest frame church, using bois‘d arc posts cut from nearby woods for foundation support columns. Mom selected paint colors. Sons Ed and Tim were born. In 1952 they moved to pastor Lakewood Assembly in Dallas, which had only a few dozen parishioners, a small new building and a lot of debt. The congregation dwindled to about a dozen, then they rebuilt to eventually a thousand members. Steve was born and mom’s life then centered on overseeing the sons’ schooling, piano lessons, the boy’s chores and caring for her parents as they aged. Mom was proficient in the kitchen but it was not her favorite pastime. Dad bought a sewing machine for her. She never turned it on, but she insisted that our home was always decorated perfectly for the current style and that her boys were dressed properly. 

Despite her eloquence, Ann avoided large groups and crowds. She preferred the company of a small number of close friends and neighbors. Rather independent, she marched to her own drumbeat. She ran on her own schedule and was rarely on time for any meeting. Her standards were high, and everything was to be neat, orderly and sparkling clean. Once when having a new house built, mom daily inspected the framing to make sure no sawdust was left between the walls before the wallboard was installed. It was hard to meet her standards. Ann was also dad’s critic-in-chief, doing post-sermon reviews about how he could have said something in a better way, and was his built-in book critic. 

She was an avid reader of the Bible and any periodical she could find, and a good writer. She often sent letters and cards of encouragement, congratulations and instructions to family, friends and parishioners. Dad died in 2008. Mom carried on stoically as was her habit. When son Dr. Tim Fjordbak was murdered by a deranged patient, her characteristic stoic nature quickly kicked in and she put it behind her, feeling empathy for the family of the perpetrator who subsequently committed suicide. She was strong-willed and able to put things into a positive perspective, and did not hold a grudge or speak unkindly about anyone. Prayer was her solace and connection with God. 

Mom traveled with dad to the Holy Land, Europe, Alaska, and loved vacations with the family in the mountains of Colorado. But before eating in a restaurant on vacation, she insisted on inspecting the kitchen. 

Mom had considered making it to 100 to surpass her mother’s 98 years. In the last few years her short-term memory faded, but her eloquent speech, long-term memory and acute observations often surprised us. 

Ann is predeceased by her parents, husband Everitt, son Dr. Tim Fjordbak, brothers Charles and Edward. Survivors include a dozen very close friends, sons Ed (Sharon) and their daughter Felicia Manno; Steve (Patty) and their children Michael, Matthew, and Lauren McEndree (Chris); sister Margie Hicks; great grandsons Ezra McEndree and Greyson Alesia; great granddaughter Greer Alesia, nieces Dr. Margie (Sis) Hicks Kerman and Anne Hicks Higginbotham (Jerry), nephew Jackie Hicks, grand nephew Ben Kerman, a host of nieces and nephews among the Tarter, Hicks and Fjordbak families, and long-time close friends Billy Bentsen, Sondra Wilson, Howard and Joyce Strange, the late Martha McNellis and Alan and Michelle Williams, Carol Lawson, the Moye family, the Dan Reed family, the Searcy family, Linda Renfro, and many others Ann considered close comrades who she respected and loved as family. 

Pallbearers include Ed Fjordbak, Steve Fjordbak, Matthew Fjordbak, Michael Fjordbak, Chris McEndree and Alan Williams. Music by Michelle Williams. 

Caretakers Henrietta Neal, Edwina Toliver, Charlotte Cornelius and Elizabeth Cornelius gave her companionship and care, which was especially critical during the COVID-19 lockdown at The Landon where she lived for the past seven years. 

A visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, July 17 at 11 am with a funeral service at noon in the main building, Restland, 13005 Greenville Ave. with a brief graveside service following. Ann will be buried next to her parents, husband, and son Tim.

 

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