Erik Bjelland

Erik "Pineapple Picker" Bjelland, age 47 of Pine City, formerly of Sauk Centre, died unexpectedly Saturday, December 20, 2014 at Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming, Minnesota.

Guests are requested to wear bright colored or Hawaiian shirts to a gathering to celebrate Erik's life that will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 27 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre.

Erik Kimo Bjelland was born February 5, 1967 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to John and Luckie (Ahuna) Bjelland. He was a 1985 graduate of Sauk Centre High School where he played football, hockey, and baseball. In his junior year he was named the Most Valuable Player in baseball for the West Central Conference. Erik worked as a corrections officer for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, first at the Minnesota Home School in Sauk Centre and then at the prison in Rush City.

Erik enjoyed spending time at Big Swan Lake with family and friends and meeting friends at the Bear Trap.

Survivors include his wife, Irene Bjelland of Pine City; son, Marcus Meyer; step-children, Dustin Pundsack and Lisa (Alfredo) Esparza; two grandchildren, Zayden and Jaxon; mother, Luckie Bjelland of Gillette, Wyoming; sister, Melodie (Jim) Tabatt of Gillette, Wyoming; mother and father-in-law, Clara and Jerry Taft of Burtrum; many nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog, Kaipo.

He was preceded in death by his father, John "Johnny Bee" Bjelland on September 17, 2004.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.