Reuben M. Bjornlie was born November 13, 1911, in Lac Qui Parle Township to Hans and Gunda (Hanson) Bjornlie. He attended grade school in District #7 in Lac Qui Parle Township and graduated from Lutheran Normal School in Madison, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in Lac Qui Parle Lutheran Church and later joined the First Presbyterian Church. After attending college for 1 1/2 years, he farmed until 1972, when he moved to Dawson. On July 6, 1974, he married Donna Erickson. He worked in Dawson at Midwest Fertilizer and also did maintenance for Johnson Memorial Hospital, First Presbyterian Church, and the Dawson Cemetery. He continued to work until his retirement in 1985. He entered the Johnson Memorial Home on March 12, 1999, and death came to him on Good Friday, April 2, 1999, at the age of 87 years, 4 months, and 22 days.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, and her children: Susan Erickson of Minneapolis, Kerry (Dallas) Kelly of Dawson, Barbara (Steven) Bjorndahl of Maynard, and Beth (Robert) MacPherson of Minneapolis; five grandchildren: Jason, Jennifer, Jeffrey, and Jacque Kelly and Brittany Bjorndahl; one great-granddaughter, Jaedyn Alexis Kelly; sister, Priscilla (Irville) Olson of Austin, MN; sister-in-law, Edith Bjornlie of Dawson; and many nieces, nephews, other family, and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers: Olaf and Harold Bjornlie; seven sisters: Carrie Erickson, Hilda Erickson, Agnes Skoien, Inga Likness, Clara Evenson, Gladys Helseth, and Sylvia Bjornlie; and two grandchildren, Brianna and Bryan Bjorndahl.