On the quiet, snowy morning of December 13, Orin Ardine Purley Bjerke, age 98, peacefully shed his earthly bounds and joined his beloved wife, Helen, in heaven above.
Orin was born at home on November 9, 1926, on the family farm in Harding County, South Dakota, to Olaf and Alma (Stromsness) Bjerke. He joined his large, Norwegian family as the 8th of 13 children. Orin was a hard worker from an early age and ultimately worked the family farm beside his father. He graduated from Hettinger High School in 1945 in Hettinger, North Dakota, following the farm community’s tradition of living in town while his family remained on the farm.
He met the lovely Helen Underland through his sister, June. Helen was from another strong Norwegian family and a 1946 Hettinger High School graduate. She worked at the City Café when Orin mustered the courage to ask her to the movie. Their courtship included long walks around Mirror Lake. On June 11, 1947, Orin and Helen eloped to Miles City, Montana. Orin brought his bride home to the farm where they lived in the family home, which was already cozy with Orin’s parents and his 5 younger siblings. Orin and Helen moved into their own house on the farm, which they filled with love, laughter and their first 5 children.
The family avoided a tragedy when Helen and several of their children went off the road returning from school and were stranded in a North Dakota blizzard. Luckily, a neighbor with a 4-wheel drive rescued them. They promptly petitioned to join a different school district which didn’t involve driving on farm roads in the winter. When the Ralph, South Dakota, Elementary School District quibbled about the distance from the school to their house, Orin hitched their house to a tractor and moved it 350 yards to ensure his children were within the school district boundaries. He was a man of strong conviction.
When Orin’s father passed away in 1959, the family left the farm and relocated to Helena, Montana. Orin traded his farming skills and focused on his lifelong carpentry skills, which led to a long and distinguished career with local builders Clarence Charlton, Bill Berrigan, American Building Company and ultimately retiring from Diamond Construction. Always a frugal soul, he was often known on a jobsite as the guy who straightened nails. He was a life-long Lutheran and a member of Helena’s First Lutheran Church and the Carpenter’s Union.
Orin and Helen completed their family in Montana, adding three more children. He was a wonderful father who was instrumental in instilling a strong work ethic in his children. His sons and daughters were gifted with their father’s wisdom that anything worth doing was worth doing right with joy in your heart. He taught by example – keep your tools clean, don’t waste anything and be thankful to God for every day. His faith was strong and he often spoke of God’s Blessings in his life. Orin was always ready to share his construction skills at every family construction project.
During the disco 70’s, a tired Orin returned from work to his children enjoying their new KC and the Sunshine Band album. Orin slowly walked to the stereo, clicked it off, and told them, “and that’s the way I like it”. He treasured that memory and the raucous laughter that followed from his wife and children. His laugh was infectious, and his sense of humor was keen.
Orin and Helen loved to dance and could often be found on the Eagle’s dance floor and the Laurel Polka Fest. They even traveled to Butte to dance in the large pavilion at Columbia Gardens. They loved to travel to visit their daughters. In 2000, they took the trip of a lifetime to Norway to visit the places where the Bjerke and Underland families began and to visit relatives in the old country.
To Orin’s great heartbreak, his loving wife of 74 years, preceded him in death in 2021. He was also preceded in death by his 2 year old daughter, Debbie, in 1957; twin girls in 1958; son, Brett, in 2011; Ardine’s first wife, Linda Bjerke; Maureen’s husband, Chris Byrd; Granddaughters Diana Bjerke Petersen and Herja Walker; great grandson, Anthony Bjerke Erickson; siblings Orville, Eddie, Myrtle, Gordon, Marian, Delila, Olaf (Bud), Marvel and George; and his parents Olaf and Alma.
His six surviving children honor and grieve his passing – Maureen (Chris) Byrd; Ardine (Susan) Bjerke; Errol (Barbara) Bjerke; Cindy Bjerke; Allison Rash; Tawnee (Joe) Walker; adopted daughter, Brittney Moore; Daughter-in-law, Laura Bjerke (Brett); former son-in-law, Greg Rash; 25 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Lorraine Gunderson and June Drolc and brother, Ivan Bjerke.
Orin was blessed to have been in the loving care of his eldest daughter, Maureen Byrd. She offered him an extraordinary quality of life, filled with dignity and lots of her famous hugs. The family is in awe of her skills and are eternally grateful to her.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday January 17, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediately following His Celebration of Life
Friday January 17, 2025
Social Center of the Funeral Home
,
Interment
Following the Reception
Friday January 17, 2025
Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
7100 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday January 17, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediately following His Celebration of Life
Friday January 17, 2025
Social Center of the Funeral Home
,
Interment
Following the Reception
Friday January 17, 2025
Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
7100 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
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Mary C Ebert says
All my prayers to the Bjerke family. Orin you will be missed. God speed. I’m comforted that Orin will now be in heaven with Helen. It used to be so fun when us girls would stop by the Bjerke house. We would hear music playing and see Orin and Helen dancing. Now Helen and Orin will be dancing together again. All my love to all the Bjerke folks.
Londa Burns says
Dean and family. I am so sorry for your loss. I remember you dad for his sense of humor and hard work. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thomas Juhl says
My condolences to the Bjerke Family. Orin was a great and humorous guy I got to work with around early in my career. May he Rest In Peace……..
Ted Polette says
Dear Bjerke family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I got to me Orin only once, when I blew his sprinkler system out. I have known Brett and Laura for 30 years and had the honor of teaching their wonderful girls at Clancy School. I played volleyball with Brett and always enjoyed his and his beautiful family’s company.
Love, Ted Polette
Elaine Mueller-Cantu and family says
Bjerke Family,
What an incredible life lived well and strong. Orin was a kind and gentle soul with a smile that could light up a room and a laugh that made us all feel welcome. He was always a gentleman and so kind. “Go rest high on that mountain, son your work on earth is done…….” God bless.
Hugh McWhorter says
One thing the Bjerkes could do with precision was build a house. Orin and Errol built ours which we purchased as the first and only occupants 46 years ago. Moving from the Washington, D.C. area there were a number of logistical issues to overcome and Orin was quite helpful. A very honorable man who worked with us to make the move as seamless as possible. You were a pleasure to do business with–rest in peace.
Scott Miller says
Allison and family: so very sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. Many of your classmates are thinking of you during this time. I never had the opportunity to meet your dad. He sounds wonderful! You must be very proud.
Dick Anderson says
Bjerke Family,
Orin lived a long and great life and raised a family that everyone would be proud of and have had great success in life. I still remember Errol and I have dinner with your family and Kermit and Jean Mueller when we had just started in business. We were two young guys with lots of energy but not much experience. Orin and Kermit lectured us about not bidding work too cheap, and i never forgot what they said.
Orin will be missed but will always be in your memories and all of us that had the pleasure to meet him.
In Colorado this year I asked how Orin was doing and he said he had started to slow down some! At 98 we all deserve to slow down! I could tell how proud Dean was of his father and what a wonderful life he had lived. He is with your Mom and probably doing a polka as i write this. I will be in Arizona and will miss the funeral but i will be thinking of him and all of you.