Janet Bjork

Janet R. "Jan" Bjork age 73, of Sauk Centre, passed away due to cancer of the gall bladder and liver on October 22, 2011 at St. Michael's Hospital, surrounded by her family.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, October 28 at First Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre with the Rev. Rebecca Thomas officiating.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, October 27 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday at the church. A private inurnment will take place at a later date.

Jan was born on November 1, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois to Gilbert and Odessa (Morrill) Schleisner. She grew up in Menominee Falls, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee for two years before transferring to the University of Minnesota graduating with a B.A. in mathematics education and a minor in natural science in 1960. Jan taught mathematics in Ogilvie, Minnesota for four years. While teaching there she met her husband of 48 years, Robert Bjork, who she married on August 23, 1963. Before moving to Sauk Centre in 1965, she and Bob lived in Grand Forks for a year while Bob attended graduate school at the University of North Dakota. Jan taught part-time at the Home School in Sauk Centre from 1967 to 1971 and for a year at Sauk Centre Junior High School in 1975. She provided home day care for many years. Jan raised her family in Sauk Centre. She was active as a volunteer for many groups and organizations (Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Sauk Centre Schools, Big Sauk Lake Association, Sauk River Watershed District, Friends of the Sauk River) and especially her church, First Lutheran, where she held many roles, most recently as the funeral committee chair.

Some of Jan's favorite activities were gardening, crafts, puzzles, swimming, her knitting groups, constant renovations to their home and spoiling her grandchildren.

Survivors include; her husband Bob Bjork of Sauk Centre; children, Steven (Beth) Bjork of Saint Paul, Beth (Chad) Beste of Sauk Centre, Jeffrey (Sonia) Bjork of New Brighton, Matthew (Erin) Bjork of Sauk Centre; grandchildren Erin, Benjamin, Ethan, Alexander, Mira and Kiera; step grandchildren Kasey and Ethan; her sister Anita (Garth) Conard of Aurora, Illinois and brother Ronald (Wanda) Schleisner of Ferndale, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorials preferred to the First Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund or Dollars for Scholars.

Urn bearer will granddaughter Erin Bjork. Honorary bearers will be her knitting group.