Wilmer George Bjugstad, age 93, of Sheyenne, ND, and most recently residing in Glen Ullin, ND, died Monday, August 12, 2013, in Glen Ullin at Marion Manor Health Care Center.

Wilmer was born March 12, 1920, in Hamberg, ND, to George “Judd� and Martha ( Kramer) Bjugstad. He was raised in the Hamberg area and later attended school in Sheyenne, graduating in 1937. He moved on to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where he graduated with a BA degree in 1941. Prior to entering the military he taught English, coached football and basketball in a small North Dakota high school.

He was united in marriage to Inez Trove in 1944.

He entered military service with the U.S. Army in 1942. In 1947, he was discharged into the Officer Reserve Corp. but returned to active duty in 1951, during the Korean War. Serving as an artillery officer during his military career, he rose to the rank of Major. During his almost 25 years of active duty he served in the Pacific Theater in World War II, had tours of duty in Korea, Germany, and Vietnam, as well as numerous duty posts in the United States before being honorably discharged in 1966. Following his military service he worked as a revenue officer for nine years, with the Internal Revenue Service in Minnesota and Nebraska.

On November 29, 1980, Wilmer was united in marriage to Beulah (Ploium) Soggie at Grace Lutheran Church in Sheyenne. They lived in Sheyenne and later became “SnowBirds.� They made their way from Mesa, AZ to Sheyenne, ND for 25 years. They moved to Poplar Court in Carrington, and later Wilmer moved to the Marion Manor Health Care Center in Glen Ullin and remained there until he passed away.

He was a life-long Lutheran and was a member of numerous congregations. He was also a member of the Sheyenne VFW. Wilmer was an avid sports fan, he especially enjoyed watching the Sheyenne-New Rockford and Legion ball teams. He loved to travel, fish and garden. Wilmer loved family get-togethers and teaching his grandkids how to fish and play ball, but the great-grandchildren came first.

Wilmer is survived by his current wife of 32 years, Beulah; 2 daughters, Erica (Paul) Phelps, Norman, OK and Dr. Allene Jackson, Norman, OK; a son, Christopher Jon (Oxana) Bjugstad, Boise, ID; 7 step children, Roger Soggie, Glen Ullin, ND, Sandi Lesmeister, Lake Holcombe, WI, Albert Soggie, Payette, ID, Deb (Stan) Stafford, New Rockford, ND, Chris Buckmeier, Eden Prairie, MN, Connie (Phil) Braun, Leonard, ND, Rick (Lisa) Soggie, Fargo, ND; 3 granddaughters; 16 step grandchildren; 30 step great-grandchildren; 3 step great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Inez, step-daughter, Terry Tangen and step-granddaughter, Marnie Soggie

PRAYER SERVICE: Monday, August 19, 2013 at 7:00 PM,

Evans FH, New Rockford

FUNERAL SERVICES: Grace Lutheran Church, Sheyenne, ND

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 2:00 PM

INTERMENT: Hillside Cemetery, Oberon, ND