Norman Fjestad

Norman “Norm” Fjestad, 94, of Fergus Falls, died Saturday, April 19, 2014, at the Broen Memorial Home, Fergus Falls.

He was born December 26, 1919, in rural Carlisle, on the original family homestead, the son of Theodore and Alice (Petterson) Fjestad. He attended grade school in Carlisle and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1937. Norm graduated from the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus in 1939, with an Agricultural degree.

On September 3, 1949, Norm and Harriet Swendsrud were married at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Dalton. They were dairy farmers in rural Carlisle from 1939-1983. Following their retirement, they moved to Fergus Falls. Once retired, he worked part time on the farm and also for Lake Area Docks and Lifts, Pelican Rapids, in the late 1990s.

Norm was actively involved with the Fergus Falls Fish and Game club, the YMCA Board of Directors, West Otter Tail County Soil and Water Board, was past president and Men’s group member of Hedemarken Lutheran Church, an Elks Member, and a fifty-plus year member of the Carlisle Band. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, wood cutting/splitting, vegetable gardening, conservation, and spending time at Pickerel Lake. Norm and Harriet also spent many winters vacationing in Arizona. Norm was passionate about the outdoors, and farming and wildlife were very important to him.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, Frank, who died in 1993.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Harriet, of Fergus Falls; two sons, Steven of Inver Grove Heights and Greg of Fergus Falls; grandchildren, Zach (Jill) Fjestad of Fergus Falls, Kelsey Fjestad of Edina, Dexter Aaberg of Rothsay, Alison (Dan) Owen of Blaine, and Abigail Tjaden of Oregon; great-grandchildren, Daniel Fjestad, Gavin Owen, and Graham Owen.

Memorials are preferred to the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Foundation.

Visitation: 5-7 pm Wednesday with a prayer service at 6:30 pm at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 2 pm Thursday at Hedemarken Lutheran Church, Carlisle
Clergy: Rev. Nancy Eldredge Hess
Interment: Hedemarken Cemetery, Carlisle
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls