Edson Vercel Fuglestad

Edson Vercel "Verce" Fuglestad, 98, of North Oaks, MN was called home to be with the Lord on January 1, 2026. A Christ follower, devoted husband to Marcia, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Verce lived a life of service to His Lord and others.

Verce was born on November 7, 1927 to Rangvald "Edwin" and Clara Fuglestad in Fargo, ND. He was the oldest of 7 children. He grew up in Moorhead, MN and spent summers in Cooperstown, ND. He is a graduate of Moorhead High School and Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. He received his Bachelor of Science of Medicine degree from the University of North Dakota. His MD degree was received from Baylor University in Houston, TX. He served with the US Navy for two years stateside. Verce met Marcia Pearson while in residency training and they were married May 29, 1954 in St. Paul, MN. They started a family and moved to Phoenix, AZ where he was in surgical private practice. Their family eventually moved back to Minnesota where Verce founded and practiced at Columbia Park Clinic while being the Chief of Staff at Unity Hospital, Fridley, MN. He loved helping and serving others through medicine.

Following the Lord's leading in his life to participate in medical missions, Verce and family worked and lived in Tanzania, East Africa for two years and Papua New Guinea for one year. These were life changing years and generations are still being called to missions. Verce and Marcia were long term members of First Covenant Church, Minneapolis and Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton. His love for missions gave him many opportunities to serve on mission boards throughout the years, one being president of the board for Operation Bootstrap Africa. Through his joy of music, he directed many church choirs. His faith was firmly established in Christ, and he lived out his faith daily. Some of his last encouragements to his family, were to "continue in your walk with Christ." This continues the heritage of faith in the Fuglestad family as the ones who have gone before us say, "Go with God"! "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed." (Isaiah 54:10 KJV)

Verce loved family and so many of his days were filled with family gatherings and reunions, traveling to New Zealand to be with family, and going back to the homestead in Cooperstown. The 60th year of the Fuglestad family reunion brought numerous family members just to be together to celebrate family! This is the legacy left by Verce and his parents.

Verce is survived by his wife, Marcia; children: Mark Fuglestad, Paul (Wendy) Fuglestad, David (Carla) Fuglestad, Dan (Lynn) Fuglestad, daughter-in-law, Denise Fuglestad, Sarah (John) Stark, 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. His surviving siblings are Torkel (Shirley) Fuglestad, Roald (Pauline) Fuglestad, Renee Fuglestad, Shelah Blixt, sister-in-law, Romayne Fuglestad, brother-in-law, Ron Nellermoe and cherished nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Clara Fuglestad; son, Peter Fuglestad; brother, Corky Fuglestad; sister, Afton (Podge) Nellermoe; sisters-in-law, Geri Fuglestad and Judy Fuglestad; and brother-in-law, Gordy Blixt. Memorials in honor of Verce can be made to Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) and Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com).

The funeral service will be held at Waverly Gardens Chapel on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 2:00 pm. Visitation will be held one hour previous to the service. The address for Waverly Gardens is 5919 Centerville Road, North Oaks, MN 55127.

"Well done, good and faithful servant".