Sheila A. Bjorklund

Funeral services for Sheila A. Bjorklund, age 92, of Badger, SD, will be 10:00 am Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor David Jennys officiating. Visitation will be Friday, August 25, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church from 5:00-7:00 PM. Sheila passed away Monday, August 21, 2023 at the Dougherty House in Sioux Falls. Interment will be in the Arlington City Cemetery under the direction of Johnson-Henry Funeral Home of Arlington. The service will be livestreamed under her obituary. People are asked to wear colorful clothing in her honor.

Sheila Ann Moen was born on Aug. 16, 1931, in Arlington, S.D., the daughter of Alvin “Shorty” and Ethel “Bunny” (Jenson) Moen. Sheila was raised in and around the Arlington and Brookings areas. Sheila attended school in Brookings for a short time and graduated from Arlington High School in 1949. She was also crowned Homecoming Queen that year. Sheila attended college at South Dakota State College in Brookings, majoring in Home Economics.

Sheila was united in marriage to Darwin Bjorklund on Aug. 26, 1951, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arlington. Along with raising their five children, Sheila worked for the local phone company and the Arlington School District while Darwin farmed. They raised their family on two farmsteads, one of which was built by Darwin’s grandfather.

They moved to Badger after Darwin retired from farming in 1996. Darwin died on Jan. 16, 2007.  Sheila remained in Badger until 2019, and moved to an apartment in Brookings. She moved across town to StoneyBrook Suites in 2021, and was beloved by the staff and residents. Of all the places she lived throughout her life, she considered Badger her home. Sheila loved being around children. Sheila worked for the Arlington School District for a multitude of years in the lunchroom. She made it a point to learn everyone’s names and would visit with them as they dropped off their plates to be washed. Sheila became everyone’s grandma after her grandchildren started school and greeting her every day in the lunchroom. After she retired from the lunchroom, she volunteered in the kindergarten room for a number of years. Sheila enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune, working in her flower gardens, reading, and solving the daily crossword puzzle, but her favorite things to do were mowing the lawn and baking. Sheila was known for her delicious cinnamon bread and popcorn balls, and her weekly baked goods were a treat for the boys at the Badger station. Sheila was thrilled to hear loud motorcycles revving up and treasured the rides with her sons, and she took delight in finding bargains at garage sales with her daughters. Sheila was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School for approximately 30 years. She also had years of fond memories of serving lunches at auction sales and taking trips with her friends in the Du Cum Club. Sheila absolutely loved spending time with her family. One of the special milestones for the grandchildren was when they grew taller than their sweet little Norwegian grandma.

Sheila is survived by her children, Mike (Jan) Bjorklund of Suffolk, VA, Kris (Steve) Gunderson of Colorado Springs, CO, Tim (Brenda) Bjorklund of Arlington, Rick (Roxie) Bjorklund of Aberdeen, Barb (Rick) Jensen of Brookings, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her sister, Sharlee Kjellsen of Brookings, and sister-in-law, Garnet Jorenby of Arlington.

Sheila was preceded in death by her parents and husband.