Arthur Melvin Bjerke

Arthur Melvin Bjerke, 98, Mesa, AZ, formally of the Hunter, ND area, died Thursday, May 11, 2006 at Banner Gardens Hospice House, Mesa, AZ. Arthur was born July 4, 1907 in the Beaver Creek Township, ND to Edward E. Bjerke and Caroline (Norgaard) Bjerke. He was baptized and confirmed in the Beaver Creek Evangelical Lutheran Church in Steele County, ND. He was a member of Blanchard Lutheran Church in Blanchard, ND and an associate member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Art was one of nine children. He married Agnes Reinan on July 18, 1938. Art entered the U.S. Army July 8, 1943 and was honorably discharged August 30, 1945. He served in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theaters. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 4172 in Hillsboro, ND. Agnes passed away June 27, 1974. On May 8, 1975 he married Dorothy Erb. After a lifetime of work as a mechanic, Art retired in 1975, but continued to repair clocks in his retirement years. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, Mesa, AZ; brother Theodore, Walla Walla, WA; and many nieces and nephews. GRAVESIDE SERVICE: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 10 AM at the Hunter Cemetery, rural Hunter, ND. BURIAL: Hunter Cemetery, rural Hunter, ND.