Jerome Blessum
Oct. 30, 1943-June 7, 2021
Jerome Alan Blessum,
77, died June 7, 2021, in
Mandan, North Dakota,
from complications of
multiple myeloma. Fun-
eral services will be held
on Saturday, June 12,
2021 at 11:00 AM at St.
Therese the Little Flower
Catholic Church in Rug-
by.
Jerry was born Oct. 30,
1943, to Lester and Bar-
bara (Miller) Blessum in
Rugby, North Dakota. He
graduated from Rugby
High School in 1961. He
attended school in Min-
neapolis to become a John
Deere certified mechanic
and worked at the imple-
ment dealership in Rugby.
He also worked as an ap-
prentice electrician for Al
Bale.
He married Kathleen
Fritel on April 23, 1966, at
Little Flower Catholic
Church. In 1971, they be-
came the fourth genera-
tion to farm on the Bles-
sum family farm north of
Rugby. They raised small
grains and had cattle and
horses. Jerry was a talent-
ed mechanic who could
fix anything and often
repaired his neighbors’
machinery, trading labor
for hay hauling and other
tasks. He loved raising
cattle and enjoyed watch-
ing the calves run around
the yard in the spring-
time.
Jerry loved riding horse,
hunting and shooting
pool. He looked forward
to finding the first cro-
cuses blooming in the
pasture and often came
home with orange pollen
on his nose from smelling
the wild tiger lilies he had
picked. He was known to
stand on a wooden ladder
atop a plywood saucer to
water ski across Lake
Metigoshe. He had an in-
satiable sweet tooth and
later in life learned how to
bake cakes and make his
favorite treat: lefse.
He served on the Cenex
board of directors for 17
years and the Torgerson
Township board for 49
years. He also served as a
4-H leader for a time.
Jerry was diagnosed
with multiple myeloma in
the fall of 2009 and un-
derwent a stem cell tran-
splant in February 2010,
after which the Blessums
retired from farming and
ranching. They enjoyed
several winters in South
Texas, a few doors down
from two of Kathy’s broth-
ers and their wives who
also spent winters there.
Jerry is survived by: his
wife of 55 years, Kathy, of
Rugby; son Jay (Suzanne)
Blessum of Minot;
daughters Julie (Dustin)
Voeller of Minot; Andrea
Blessum of Bismarck; and
Pamela Blessum of Maui;
grandchildren Samantha,
Tabitha, Forest, Connor,
Dane, Brody and Reed;
and his twin sister, Joan
Orvik of Bismarck.
He was preceded in
death by: his parents and
his brother, Harlan.
Special thanks to every-
one at Maple View in
Bismarck for the excep-
tional care they provided.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Gift of
Life Transplant House,
705 2nd St. SW, Roches-
ter, MN 55902.
Friends may call at the
Niewoehner Funeral
Home in Rugby on Friday
from 5-7 and on Saturday
from 8-10 AM. There will
be a prayer service on Fri-
day at 7 PM. There will
be no reviewal at the
church.
www.niewoehner
fh.com