John Bjelland

John E. "Johnny Bee" Bjelland, age 64 of Sauk Centre, died Friday, Sept. 17, 2004.

A gathering time with the family will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. United Veterans prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

John Bjelland was born on May 30, 1940 in Wahpeton, North Dakota to John and Clara (Hall) Bjelland. The family later moved to Westport where he attended grade school and then to Sauk Centre where John graduated from high school in 1958. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead and then joined the U.S. Army in 1960. On August 31, 1961 he married Luckie Ahuna in Aurora, Colorado. He was employed as a car salesman and then worked at Unger Furniture in Sauk Centre. He was well-known as a musical entertainer in the Sauk Centre area. The couple later resided in Hawaii, where he was an accountant and business owner. When they returned to Sauk Centre he worked at the Sinclair Lewis Home and Aria Communications. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and American Legion Post 67. John enjoyed music, fishing, camping, bowling, watching and listening to the Twins games and being with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Luckie Bjelland of Sauk Centre; two children, Melodie Bueckers of Sauk Centre and Erik (Irene) Bjelland of Pine City; son-in-law, Pat Bueckers of Melrose; two grandchildren, Jessica Bueckers and Marcus Meyer; two step-grandchildren, Dustin and Lisa Pundsack; sister, Diana (Gary) Paszek of Long Prairie; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Carrol Walgren.