Alfred Hugh Bjorkgren

BJORKGREN Alfred Hugh Bjorkgren passed away at home on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, eight days after his 83rd birthday. He was a native of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and a lifelong resident of Metairie. As a graduate of LSU in 1950, he earned a B.S. degree in Soil Science. He served for eight years in the National Guard Reserves completing his service as Sergeant. As a young man he was chosen to conduct one of the early pollution projects for the LSU Experiment Station in North Louisiana. In 1954, he married Martha Sue Anderson of Magnolia, Arkansas, and moved to Port Sulphur, Louisiana. There he served as Assistant County Agent in Plaquemines Parish until 1955. Then he joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Grain Division, where he worked for 22 years as a chemical analyst of commodity grain products, followed by 10 years with Archer Daniels Midland. He retired from both the USDA and ADM. Alfred was a member of long standing at Bridgedale Baptist Church in Metairie. He was a member and Past Master of Lee e. Thomas Masonic Lodge No. 421, F&AM, New Orleans, and was a 32nd degree mason. He enjoyed serving for several years as Tiler in four other lodges, until he could no longer serve after January due to ill health. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Martha Sue; a daughter Joyce Ann Rivette and her husband, Charles Denis, of Houston, Texas; a son, William Randall Bjorkgren and his wife, Amy, of Hanover, Maryland; grandson Alan James Bjorkgren of Huntsville, Texas; granddaughter Catherine Marie Rivette of Houston; grandson Denis Alexander Rivette and his wife, Liz, of Houston; and step-grandson Scott Wilson of Atlanta, Georgia. He was predeceased by his parents, William Wells Bjorkgren and Leona Beatrice Murray Bjorkgren, both of whom were natives and lifelong residents of Ponchatoula. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 26, 2011 from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home at 4747 Veterans Blvd., Metairie. Memorial services will follow in the Chapel at 11:00, conducted by Rev. Stephen Spiars. A Processional will move to Ponchatoula, where a brief graveside service will be conducted by Rev. Spiars at 1:00 p.m. at Wetmore Cemetery.