Obituary
Earl Gerald Bjelland, who opened Mariners Elementary School in 1959
and served as an administrator there for many years, died Oct. 28 at his
Oregon home. He was 79.
Mr. Bjelland was born in Erskine, Minn. He received his bachelor’s
degree in education from Moorhead State University and served in the Navy
during World War II as an officer in the Normandy Invasion and Okinawa.
He married Shirley Utke on Jan. 26, 1945. After he was discharged from
the Navy, Mr. Bjelland returned to Fargo, N.D., where he taught middle
school. He later moved to California and earned a master’s degree from
UCLA.
Mr. Bjelland retired from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and
moved to Dallas, Ore., in 1980.
He was a member of the Dallas Trinity Lutheran Church and enjoyed
gardening, camping, fishing, golfing, travel and spending time with his
family.
Mr. Bjelland is survived by wife Shirley, and daughters Meridee
Thompson and Becky Benton.
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