Joan Bjerga

Joan R. Bjerga, 83, of Staples, passed away unexpectedly at Lakewood Helath System Hospital on May 13, 2023. 

Services were held May 19 at the Motley Free Methodist Church.

 Interment was at the Motley Public Cemetery.

Joan was born March 1, 1940, to Frank and Lila (Marsh) Kowalski. She grew up on a farm southwest of Staples. She married Rudy Bjerga on September 24, 1960. The couple moved to the Twin Cities and raised their family. Her life in the Cities was raising four children as well as selling Avon for many years until they purchased the farm. In 1981 they purchased The Friendly Inn by Motley. Joan worked many hours over the 42 years they owned the Friendly. From bartending to cooking all the soups and prepping the weekly prime rib that customers always commented on how good it was. Joan enjoyed visiting with everyone over the years. She was actively involved in the Friendly Inn until she passed. She and Rudy would love to go motorcycle riding every year to attend The Sturgis motorcycle rally. She also enjoyed riding around the Motley/Staples area with their sons.  She loved to go to the casino. Her family would take yearly trips to Las Vegas, Laughlin and Reno. She always seemed to have money left her in pocket when it was time to leave. Her passion, most recently, was looking through cookbooks to see what she could create for the next family holiday or when someone came to visit.

Joan is survived by two daughters, Laurie (Mike) Craft and Gloria (Barry) Jansson; two sons, Rudy (Mary) Bjerga, Jr. and Joey (Lorrie) Bjerga; nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Frank (Shirley) Kowalski; one sister, Agnus (Ron) Carry and two brothers-in-law, Mike (Judy) Bjerga and Dale (Lorna) Bjerga. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Rudy; parents; two sisters, Lucille Etzler and Jeanette Etzler and one grandson, Ryan Jansson.

Arrangements were by the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.

              w22c  A00006B2023MY24