James Edward Bjorklund

James E. Bjorklund, 79, West Fargo, ND died on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at Sanford Hospital, Fargo, ND. James Edward Bjorklund was born in Hope, ND on July 27, 1936 to Nels and Grace (Hahn) Bjorklund. His father died when Jim was an infant and Jim, his mother, and sister, Evelyn (Grice) Bjorklund, lived for a time with Jim's uncle, Clyde Hahn at Hope. Jim attended Hope Public School and the Minneapolis Schools where he and his mother and sister lived during WWII. In 1949, his mother remarried and he moved with his mother and sister to Rock Island, IL where he attended his junior high and graduated from Rock Island High School. While living in Hope, ND Jim met his future bride, Brenda Ann Smith. Jim and Brenda married on August 21, 1960 at Hope. Jim and Brenda were devoted to each other for 55 years. During the last several years, due to Brenda's progressing battle with dementia, Jim and Brenda were inseparable; a true testament to their vows to each other for better for worse and in sickness and in health. After a year of college at Western Illinois University, Macomb, Ill., he joined the Army and served in Texas and Germany. After completing his service in the Army he attended and graduated from Valley City State Teachers College in 1962. He began his teaching career in Page, and also taught in Rogers, Lakota and West Fargo, all in ND. He was a coach, teacher, and guidance counselor during his career which ended after 36 years in 1998 with his retirement. Jim was honored to be named the West Fargo School District's teacher of the year for 1994-1995. Nothing gave Jim more joy than helping thousands of students through good times and bad times in his counseling career. He always referred to each one of them as "one of my kids". Jim was an active member of the West Fargo Lions and a dedicated member of the West Fargo Community Presbyterian Church. Jim is survived by his wife, Brenda A. Bjorklund Maple View Memory Care, Fargo, ND, his children, Steven A. Bjorklund (Gae), of Bozeman, MT and Sandra A. Kosena (Kevin), of Missoula, MT, sister Evelyn Grice (Jim-deceased), of Boyne City, MI, brother Ernest P. Swanson (Dorothy) of Princeton, MN, and five grandsons: Aden James Dohn, of Missoula, MT, Austin Cole Bjorklund, of Bozeman, MT, Samuel Nels Bjorklund, of Seattle, WA, Gunnar James Bjorklund (Kelsey), of Ogdon, UT, Carter Roy Brady, of Missoula, MT and one great-granddaughter, Savanna Marie Bjorklund. Visitation: Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 6-8 PM at Community Presbyterian Church, West Fargo, ND. Funeral: Monday, October 5, 2015 at 1 PM at Community Presbyterian Church, West Fargo, ND with visitation one hour prior. Burial: Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 10 AM at Hope Cemetery, Hope, ND. West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center westfuneralhome.com