Roger Fjerkenstad

Roger Fjerkenstad died on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at Johnson Memorial Health Services at the age of 88.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Baxter with Pastor Lori Wold officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

A walk through visitation will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Baxter from 6-8PM.  Social distancing will be observed and masks are required.

Roger E. Fjerkenstad was born in  Ten mile Lake Township, Lac qui Parle County on March 29, 1933 to Palmer and Lucille (Danielson) Fjerkenstad.  He grew up in the Boyd and Dawson area and graduated from Dawson High School in 1951.  He entered the US Army and served his country.   He returned to the Dawson area to farm.

Roger and Lois were married on September 26, 1954 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City.  They made their home in rural Dawson.  Lois and Roger had four girls: Carla, Anita, Gail and Mary.  Most of all they cherished the time spent with their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Roger was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Baxter and served as Church Council President and Treasurer.   He actively sat on the boards of MCP, Farmers Elevator, the township, Dawson VFW, and Baxter Lutheran for many years. Roger’s favorite past time was woodworking and inventing things in the shop.  One of those inventions was a snow blower that he built from scrap metal.

Roger spent much of his spare time after retiring from farming as a self-taught woodworker. He crafted several furniture pieces for their home and other family members including a complete bedroom set for each of his four daughters.

Together they helped establish Minnesota Corn Processors and the Hope Cancer Network.  They were also active in seniors group in Dawson and loved to play cards. They loved to travel with their 5th wheel camper attending area polka festivals and visiting friends from Minnesota to the southern states.

They are survived by their children: Carla (David) Estling, Dawson, Anita (Ronnie) Borg, Clarkfield, Gail (Allen) Hanson, Clarkfield, Mary (Greg Brown) Olson, Montevideo; grandchildren: Courtney (Troy) Hanson, Jason (Tracy) Estling, Ethan Borg, Kaya Borg, Adam (Eva) Hanson, Joshua (Leah) Hanson, Seth Hanson, Aric Olson, Kelsey Olson, and Lindsey Olson; great-grandchildren: Claire, Carlee and Rylee Hanson, Bryce and Bryant Estling, Ella, Andrew, and Eden Hanson, Audrey, Avery, and Adelynn Hanson, and Braxton, Kylen, and Graham Olson; sisters-in-law, Margaret Kruger and Lorna Kruger; Roger’s sister, Diane (Roger) Seefeld; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Palmer and Lucille Fjerkenstad, step-father, Amos Bjerstedt, and a sister, Eleanor Weber.

Blessed be his memory.