Petra Quam Bjerke, 89, died Nov. 11 in California with her family at her side. In accordance with her wishes, there will be no services.
Petra was born on April 26, 1918, to John and Claudia Quam. She was raised in Hamar, N.D., along with nine brothers and sisters. In 1940, she married Alvin Bjerke. They moved to Clearbrook, Minn., where they farmed for many years until relocating to International Falls where they lived until 1995. They raised four children.
Those who knew her say they will cherish the memories of Petra as a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother – appreciating her artistic abilities, paintings and various crafts. Petra was an excellent seamstress, a whiz at word search and loved to bake and to read.
She treasured the memories of family gatherings and retirement when she and her husband traveled to all of the contiguous states and Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Scandinavia and Europe.
Survivors include her children, Monte and Rosemary Bjerke of San Jose, Calif., Patricia and Norman Gorze of Cove, Barbara and Robert Kruzel of Norwood Young America, Minn.; and Denise and Stephen Stott of Merced, Calif.; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; two sisters; one brother; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years; her parents; and six brothers and sisters.
La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the week ending November 17, 2007 – Published: November 17, 2007
