Tribute to E. B. by wife, Millie What can I say about a guy with whom I have loved and worked side-by-side for forty years? "E. B." was a hometown man. He was born, raised and lived his entire lifetime in Clarkfield. His birthplace is part of the terra firma on which Clarkfield now stands. His parental grandfather walked across the prairie from Benson, Minnesota, where part of the family first settled, and established the home. His parents, Mathias and Johanne Vik Jorgenson, each suffered the loss of two mates before their union took place. Mildred Beldin, now of Petoskey, Michigan, Judith Hanson of Faribault, Erling Bernard born on September 22, 1906, and Bennie were issues of this union. Earlier marriages brought Martha (Mrs. Henry Hanson), George, Severin, Martin and Severin Alvin, all deceased, and Arden of Clarkfield. As a result of WWI, Severin, an earlier editor of the then Reform Advocate, lay seriously ill in a military camp. He wrote home requesting E. B. to join Martin, then with two years in the shop, in order to keep the paper going. So it was that in 1924, Erling had no choice but to quit school and set type full time, which meant each letter in every line was set in by hand and then after press day, returned to its proper location in the type case. It was in 1934 when I entered his life. I had helped set up the first government farm program at the Court House in Granite Falls, and due to the crowded condition there and word from Clarkfield businessmen that they would give us office space, we packed up and came over. However, it took the famous Boyd Good Time days for our first meeting. June 21, 1936, was the eventful day. Following our marriage at Faribault, we headed the old Pontiac westward for our first trip which took us to the Black Hills, Yellowstone and the Banff in Canada. As I recall one hundred dollars in those days covered the wedding expense and the entire trip. Wonderful motels were a dollar to one-fifty. Our dreams for the hometown paper and a new home for it materialized and in 1939, we became sole owners and in 1947, we moved into our modern new plant, the second building in the state to have Radiant heat which meant a lot for printing. We had our home apartment upstairs and there our son and daughter grew with the community. Chaplain Stanley Jurgenson is now serving at the Veterans' Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he and his wife, Barbara and our grandchildren, Michael and Erica reside. Daughter, Pastor Kay is serving inner-city Minneapolis at the Augustana Lutheran Church at 7th Street, 11th Avenue. E. B. was born a Lutheran and remained steadfast throughout his life. He loved music and participated actively until the end of WWII when many of his old buddies didn't return. We shared many happy memories of the Hauge Male Chorus days with the highlight being when Clarkfield won the first place title in the state at Fort Ridgely. Our first hard blow was the loss of brother Ben in the tragic fire when he was only thirty. It was September 14, 1959, six a. m. when I left Erling in the hands of our efficient ladies in white at the local hospital. Survival from that heart attack was dim that night and "The Kids" were not due home from Europe till Thursday. But the Great Master walked beside us. E. B. was back on his feet the following February and with "Dotty" at our side and Kay missing a semester at Gustavus, we sailed through. Five surgeries, cancer, diabetes followed and E. B.'s desire was to be able to remain at home to meet his maker. His wish and peace came early Saturday morning, May 8th. What was right for "The Kids" or for Clarkfield was always uppermost in his mind. His yellow rose corsage for Mother's Day came shortly after his departure, Saturday morning. This is a typical example of his "special" gift for every occasion. We shared many wonderful weekend trips with the kids through the years, family trips to many points, but after the sale of our business on January 1, 1973, E. B. seemed to prefer just being home. Our thanks to everyone who have shared in our lives. You have been a wonderful community in which to share. As one gal said through her tears Saturday morning, "He's been dad to me!" Yes, we feel we have several daughters instead of one and a real community family. The Lord has truly blessed us. IN MEMORY OF EBLING B. JURGENSON Born September 22, 1906 ~ Passed away May 8, 1976 Funeral Services Tuesday, May 11, 1976, 2:00 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Larry Tantow assisted by Dr. William E. Berg Pastor Kay Jurgenson Music by Organist, Ella Larson Pianist, Janet Tantow Soloist, Loren Norgaard "The Lord's Prayer" "How Great Thou Art" Congregational Hymns "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" "Thine Is the Glory"