Loren Bjornson

1934 – 2021

Loren Gene Bjornson, age 87, died on November 16, 2021 at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Fall, MN with his family by his side. He was born June 20, 1934 in Spruce Grove Township, Becker County, MN to Martin and Grace (Baumgart) Bjornson (both deceased)

He attended Country School, Dist. 75 through the 8th grade. At the age of 14, Loren began working on farms in North Dakota and Minnesota.

He drove logging trucks in Montana, drove truck for Daggett Truck Line out of Frazee, MN., plus several other part time jobs to provide for his family.

He purchased a 160 acre farm just outside of Menahga in 1961, which he hobby farmed raising cows, sheep, chickens, horses, along with driving a milk truck.

From 1973-1979 he raised about a 1,000 feeder pigs per year.

Loren worked for Marvin Quade traveling around inseminating turkeys from 1974-1977, and Rollie King from 1977-1979.

He started a family painting business in the 60s that continued 30 plus years.

Loren and his family were the pioneers of the Home School Movement in Minnesota in the late 70s.

Loren attended Lutheran Brethren Bible college in Fergus Falls, MN during the 1978-79 school year.

He sold the family farm and moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ in the fall of 1979, where they lived until 1991. Loren continued his painting business and was a Volunteer Visitation Minister at the Church Of The Nazarene.

On June 19, 1991 Loren was appointed Pastor of the Nazarene Church in Park Rapids, MN where he was the Pastor for 13 years.

Loren was enrolled in the District Directed Ministry Course and was ordained an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene on August 12, 1997.

Loren worked for Curt Malecha doing maintenance, snow plowing, and lawn mowing for several apartment complexes from 2008-2013.

Loren met Loretta while he was driving truck for Daggett, he had two sons from a previous marriage, Martin Gene (Lu Ann) Bjornson, and Gary Lee Bjornson.

Loren married Loretta Mae Lemon in 1957 in Milbank, South Dakota. To that union, five children were born; Byron Dean (Patricia) Bjornson, Dawn Adelle (Marlin) Warmbold, Valerie Joy (Daniel) Ostrand, Jody Gene (Jeanne) Bjornson, and Sara Jane (Joseph Burgess) Bjornson. Loren has 19 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren, as well as many other relatives and a host of friends.

A Memorial will be held at a later date.