Lucille M. Bjorge

Ridgeway – Lucille Marion Bjorge, age 95, of Ridgeway, passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at Upland Hills Nursing & Rehab Center in Dodgeville. She was born on November 14, 1920 in the Town of LaGrange near Whitewater, Wisconsin, a daughter of Frank and Serena (Branfort) Harris. She graduated from Whitewater High School and worked at a factory that was making parts for World War II. On November 24, 1943, she married Bernard Bjorge and after he returned from the war, they started farming near Elkhorn, Wisconsin and later purchased a farm by Dodgeville. After retiring, they sold the farm to their son, Bob and Chris and moved to Ridgeway. Her main interest in life was her family and helping on the farm. She loved to cook and bake and can and her family enjoyed her famous cookies. She loved playing cards and belonged to a card club for over 40 years. She belonged to a Homemakers club at Elkhorn and later joined the Wakefield Homemaker Club in Iowa County and was a member for over 50 years. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Ridgeway, where she enjoyed helping out with dinners, funerals and making pasties. Lucille is survived by her five children, Bruce (Kathy) Bjorge of Ridgeway, Mary (Dwight) Cutler of Verona, Bonnie (Richard) O'Brien of Mount Hope, Robert (Christine) Bjorge of Dodgeville and Gary (Becky) Bjorge of DeForest; 12 grandchildren, Kendall Bjorge, Scott (Jen) Bjorge, Wayne (Heather) Cutler, Douglas (Jeanette) Cutler, Erika (Brian) Halverson, Justin (Dana) O'Brien, Cody (Charlotte) O'Brien, Jenny Bjorge, Jeff Bjorge, Candice (Jeff) Hron, Deana Bjorge and Bryan (Kari) Bjorge; eight great grandchildren with one due in July and two step-grandchildren and 10 step-great grandchildren and one step-great great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends, with a very special nephew, Leon Harris and wife, Margaret. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard in 2009, her brothers, Leland and Clinton Harris, her sister, Jane Harris, her brother-in-law, Jerald (Jean) Bjorge, Lynn Bjorge and sister-in-law, Bernita (Sonny) Grimm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville. Burial will be held in Eastside Cemetery in Ridgeway. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday and from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Saturday at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville. The family suggests that memorials be made to the Grace United Methodist Church or Eastside Cemetery in Ridgeway. The family would like to send a special thanks to all the wonderful staff at Upland Hills Health for the great care they gave our mom.

Lucille M. Bjorge

November 14, 1920 - March 9, 2016