JoLayne R. Bjerk

JoLayne Rae Bjerk, 60, of Dilworth, MN, passed away on June 18, 2023, after a brief battle with brain cancer.

JoLayne Rae Bjerk was born on November 20, 1962, to Glenn and Delores (Anderson) Bjerk, in Moorhead, MN. JoLayne started elementary school in Wilcox, AZ, where her father Glenn managed a road construction project, but the family soon returned to Dilworth. She graduated from Dilworth High School. After graduation, she attended beauty school, leading to JoLayne owning Headlines, her own beauty and hair salon. Later, JoLayne made the decision to go back to school to become a paralegal and worked as a legal assistant and paralegal at various law firms in the Fargo-Moorhead area.  

JoLayne enjoyed many aspects of life. She loved movies, television, and history documentaries. JoLayne watched Jeopardy! every night with her brother and mom. She was a great lover of history, particularly interested in the Civil War. JoLayne was also a writer, including fanfiction of her favorite tv shows. The fanfiction community connected her with friends all over the country. 

Most of all JoLayne enjoyed anything she could do with family and friends. She enjoyed card games, and after years of advocacy, successfully changed the Bjerk Family Rules of “May I” to allow discarding of wild cards, yet, to her consternation, she somehow always had to deal the three-sets round. JoLayne loved traveling, including memorable family vacations to Yellowstone National Park, California, the Carolinas, and upstate New York. JoLayne took great joy in cooking for others, trying new recipes — often inspired by her favorite cooking shows — and grilling the perfect T-bone steak. 

JoLayne is survived by her mother, Delores Bjerk of Dilworth; sister, Roxanne (Dale Rousseau) Bjerk of Moorhead; brother, Gregg (Paula) Bjerk of Dilworth; nieces and nephews: Jack Rousseau of San Jose, CA, Maggie (Greg) Sunstrum of Washington, DC, Alice Bjerk of Fargo, Tyler (Becca) Moorhouse of Moorhead, and Alicia (Brandon) Geist of Fargo, ND; one great-niece and two great-nephews: Nora, Hunter, and Nolan Moorhouse; and aunt, Helen Anderson of Greenbush, MN.

She was preceded in death by her father, Glenn Bjerk of Dilworth. 

JoLayne’s memorial service will be held on July 8, 2023, at 1 PM, in Dilworth Lutheran Church in Dilworth, with a visitation beginning at noon. She will be interred next to her father at Pauli Lutheran Cemetery, Greenbush, MN, at noon, Sunday, July 9, 2023. 

JoLayne’s family extends special thanks to the staff at the Eventide Care Center in Moorhead, and to Sanford Hospice, for their endless grace, patience, and support.

 (Kormso Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN)