Master Chief William "BJ" Bjorgaard

William Bjorgaard, 68, of Chesapeake, VA, died in Crookston, MN, under care of hospice on Friday evening, September 27, 2024.

William John was born on Veteran's Day, 1955, in Karlstad, MN, the son of John R. and Avis (Lannoye) Bjorgaard. The family moved between Newfolden and Argyle, MN, before returning to the former where Bill graduated from Marshall County Central High School in 1973. He moved to Staples to attend tech school and worked for a time at Napco in Hopkins, MN, as a machinist before his sense of adventure took over.

On March 15, 1976, after reviewing each branch of service, Bill enlisted in the US Navy. Known as “BJ” due to a tricky last name, Bill received a number of promotions, earning his rank as Master Chief in a short 14 years. The key to his success was his motto, “Never do the same job twice.” Always concerned with efficiency, Bill was a communications and organizational expert. In his twenty years in the Navy, Bill was at sea for seven of them, serving aboard the USS Blue Ridge (the command center of the 7th Fleet in the Pacific) and the USS Arthur W. Radford (also in the Pacific). When he returned to land Bill worked in the Pentagon, handling communications for President Reagan's reelection. Upon retirement in 1996, Bill worked as a civilian employee as a management analyst in various Naval and Federal enterprises.

Bill was a man to whom things came naturally. He was very sharp and excelled at most of his interests. He truly enjoyed cooking, grilling, and smoking meats; watching the birds he fed; woodworking; playing golf and bowling (with numerous perfect games to his credit). Despite living on the east coast for most of his adult life, part of Bill was always “home” in Minnesota. A wildly optimistic Vikings fan, Bill even retired to Minnesota, moving to a new home in Crookston in July of 2024.

Though cancer cut his retirement plans short, his final days were spent as he hoped, with his family at his side and under the watchful care of his wife, Penny, whom he married on October 11, 2019.

In addition to his wife, Penny Bjorgaard, Bill is survived by two daughters, Kathryn (Nick) Bowman of Charleston, SC, and Sara (Ray) Walker of Toano VA; grandchildren, Zoe, Adalyn, Jonah, Emmy, and one on the way; siblings in Minnesota, Diane (Denis) Pagnac of East Grand Forks, Kurt (Sue) Bjorgaard of Warren, Carolyn (Richard “Chip”) McGlynn of Osseo, Sandy (Roger) Hible of Thief River Falls, and Faye (Lowell) Lefrooth of Strandquist; brother, Mike Bjorgaard of Delta Junction, AK; many nieces and nephews; and Penny's daughter, Missy (Michael) Cline with children, Carter and Katelyn.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 2:00 PM, in Alma Lutheran Church, rural Argyle, MN.
VISITATION: One hour prior.
INTERMENT: Alma Lutheran Cemetery, Argyle, MN.
MILITARY HONORS: US Navy Honor Guard.