Lavern Blackledge

Lavern Willis Blackledge was born on October 25, 1926 in Fairmount, North Dakota to Willis and Wilma (Menge) Blackledge. He attended school in Traverse County through the eighth grade. Vern then helped do farm work for his father and other local farmers. He enlisted in the Army in September of 1945 and served during WWII in Munich, Germany and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in October of 1948. He returned back to Minnesota. He was united in marriage to Mildred "Janet" Bue in 1951. The couple had three children, Larry, Don, and Beverly. On September 11, 1981, Vern married Marie Bertek in Dent, Minnesota. The couple lived in Ottertail, Minnesota until 2005, when the couple moved to Alexandria to be closer to Marie's son and family.
Vern enjoyed working as a carpenter and building things. He also enjoyed welding. He also did some farming near Dent until 1984, when he had a stroke and needed to retire. Vern was an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed getting together with friends over coffee. He was a good honest man and most of all loved his family, especially his grandchildren. Vern loved his time taking them fishing, hunting, and taking walks with them.
Vern died on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at his home in Carlos, Minnesota at the age of 90. He is survived by his sons, Don Blackledge of Garfield; David (Stephanie) Bertek of Carlos; daughter, Beverly (Roger) Blomster of Rogers; grandchildren, Brian and Brandon Scherman, Tiffany and Brandon Bertek, Josh and April Bernu, and Josh and Jamie Blackledge; great-grandchildren, Kayden and Aubree; brothers, Roy Blackledge, Jimmy Blackledge, and Wayne Blackledge; sisters, Florence Lemke, Karen Klendworth, Lillian Hicks, JoAnn Haaland, and Helen Finke; and many nieces and nephews. Vern is preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Wilma; first wife, Janet Blackledge; and second wife, Marie Blackledge; son, Larry Blackledge; brothers, Buddy and Roger; and sister, Irene Klemm.
A Funeral Service will be held 1:00 PM on Friday, December 30, 2016 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be held 4-6 PM on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.