David Leroy Bjoralt

David L. Bjoralt, son of Alfred (Alf) and Verna (Sanders) Bjoralt was born on January 29, 1945, in Alexandria, MN. Dave attended Jefferson Senior High in Alexandria, MN. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1962 and served as a Gunner’s Mate and Ammunition Foreman aboard the USS John S. McCain during operations in the waters of the western Pacific, South China Sea, Gulf of Tonkin, Japan, and the Philippines.  For his service in the Navy, he was awarded the Viet Nam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Navy Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1966 and returned to live in the Alexandria area. He attended Alexandria Vocational-Technical Institute where he learned his lifelong carpentry skills, and then began his career as a carpenter and independent contractor.

In 1970, Dave married Sheila Torgusen. They were blessed with a son, Shawn and a daughter, Deanna. In 1981 Dave married Rita Alex Andreasen and together they owned and operated The Homestead Inn. They were blessed with a daughter, Jayde.

Dave passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the age of 77 at the Minneapolis VA Hospital.

Dave was always busy with work, projects, and hobbies. He was always happy tinkering on hot rod cars, building custom trike motorcycles, making wooden toys and furniture in his wood shop, rebuilding an engine or transmission, working on his coin collection, and doing anything that involved working with his mind and hands to create something. But his most important life’s work was raising his youngest daughter as a single dad, being a low-key but very powerful positive influence in the lives of all of his adult children and living a life of true humility and selflessness with every person he knew. He was typically a man of few words, possessing the full spirit of Norwegian stoicism. The time he spent overseas in the Pacific and Southeast Asia affected him significantly, and he had a very deep soul. It was obvious to anyone who spent time with him that he had a big heart. His actions had meaning, and his words had purpose. The life lessons he provided to his children are being paid forward in their lives and families in countless ways.

Dave is survived by his three children, son Shawn (Roxie) Green of Alexandria, MN; daughter Deanna (Rob) McGlothin of Sandy, OR; and daughter Jayde (Tate) Quigley of Mounds View, MN; and seven grandchildren: Sadie Green, Peyton (Ethan) Schonberg, Kelsi McGlothin, Grace McGlothin, Ella McGlothin, Eamon Quigley, and Micah Quigley. He is also survived by three siblings, brother Don (Paula) Bjoralt of Duluth, MN; sister Shirley (Marvin) Rosholt of Prior Lake, MN; and sister Mary Ann Russell of Alexandria, MN; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wives Sheila and Rita, brothers Marlin and Sherlin, sisters Ruby and Alice, and nephew Jeff.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Anderson Funeral Home, with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service. Honorary urn bearers will be all of Dave’s grandchildren.  

David's service will be livestreamed and can be viewed on his obituary page on the funeral home's website.

Full military honors will be accorded by the Minnesota Naval Honor Guard, American Legion Post #87, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #936, Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #235, and the Marine Corps League Detachment #1409.

 A private interment will be held at Chippewa Cemetery near Brandon, MN at a future date.