Blekeberg, Orrin -- 1920 - 2011
BLEKEBERG, HALVORSON, LUND, BUSCHKOPF, DOLPHIN, HERMAN, SMORSTAD
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/25/2012 at 17:45:44
Decorah Public Opinion Feb. 1, 2011
Orrin Blekeberg , age 90, of Ridgeway, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at the Patty Elwood Center, in Cresco.
Orrin Arnold Blekeberg was born Dec. 12, 1920, the son of Amund and Olga (Halvorson) Blekeberg, on the family farm near Ridgeway, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the Madison Lutheran Church in Norwegian. He attended country school near his home and then farmed alongside his father in Madison Township, until 1957. Orrin then drove semi for Brown Transfer of La Porte City, and for Platte Trucking, of Denver, Iowa until 1964.
Orrin married Helen Lund June 24, 1962, in Viroqua, Wis. In 1964, Orrin and Helen moved to the home farm, where Orrin farmed and did custom silo filling. In 1992, they moved off of the farm and into Ridgeway. Orrin kept his truck and trailer from the farm and he started hauling hogs and cattle to and from area sale barns. He really loved what he did, as well as visiting with all people throughout the years at the sale barn. Orrin enjoyed playing cards, especially 500. He was a former member of the Madison Lutheran Church and a current member of the Decorah Lutheran Church.
Orrin’s survivors include his wife; Helen Blekeberg, Ridgeway; three sisters-in-law; Irene Buschkopf of Juneau, Wis., Esther (Gaylord) Dolphin of Onalaska, Wis., and Roberta Blekeberg, Decorah; along with many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews; and three special friends: Kathy Schrader of Decorah, Jody Kuennen of Festina, and Brad Linderbaum of Ridgeway. He was preceded in death by his parents: Amund and Olga Blekeberg; one brother: Wallace Blekeberg on Nov. 30, 2006; two sisters: Hazel (Vernon) Herman in 1990 and Marcella (Orville) Smorstad in 1997; and one brother-in-law: Robert Buschkopf.
Funeral services were Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Madison Lutheran Church, with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Organist was Judy Hovden. Prelude was by Lucas and Leah Blekeberg, Orrin’s great-nephew and niece. Hymns were: “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” “Rock of Ages” and “Amazing Grace.” The solo, “His Eye Is On the Sparrow” was sung by Becky Steines. Casket bearers were Carleton Kjos, Brad Linderbaum, Dave Fadness, Roger Halverson, Rick Kuennen, Rodney Dotzler, Roger Doubek, Dan Klimesh and Gary Bakken. Interment was at the Madison Cemetery, rural Decorah, with Schluter-Balik Funeral Home of Decorah in charge of the arrangements.
Transcribed from newspaper clipping provided Janice Sowers
Madison Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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