Sigrid Delma Norma Bjelland, 102, Anchorage, Alaska and formerly of Minot died on September 28, 2008 at the Fine Pearle Assisted Living, where the staff and Denali Hospice provided excellent care. She was born March 22, 1906 in Minot, North Dakota to Olav and Augusta (Hedlund) Ness. She was reared in Rice Lake Township of Ward County and attended country school. She graduated from Berthold High School and attended Minot Teachers College where she earned her standard teaching certificate. She taught in rural and consolidated schools throughout North Dakota including Harrison and Rice Lake Townships schools. While teaching at those schools she also served as principal of the Harrison School and as clerk of the Rice Lake Township School Board.

Sigrid married Selmer Bjelland on December 28, 1929 in Minot where they made their home for many years. Selmer died in January, 1989. Following his death, she continued to live in Minot until moving to Anchorage, Alaska in 1995 to live with her granddaughter Laurie Waters and her family.

Sigrid was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church - Minot and local, state and national education associations as well as a retired teachers group and local senior citizens organizations.

Surviving family includes: sons: Keith (Nannette) Bjelland, Midway City, California; Dean (Sandra) Bjelland, Anchorage, Alaska; daughter-in-law: Lonnie Capps, Anchorage, Alaska; grandchildren: Kari, Carrie, Laurie, Rory, Sheen, Nathan, Eric: great grandchildren: Nicole, Jesse, Corey, Eric and Joseph; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Selmer; son, Roger; sisters: Eleanor Rosenthal, Viola Van Winkle, and Emma Bjelland and brothers: Ommund and Carl Ness.

Funeral Service : Friday, October 24, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church - Minot with a lunch and fellowship following the service;
Interment : Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot, ND;
Visitation : Thursday, October 23, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot;