Obituary of Merlyn LeRoy Sjodin

Merlyn LeRoy Sjodin, age 82, passed away December 24th, 2017 at home. He was born March 13th, 1935 to parents Clarence and Alice (Gibelyou) Sjodin in Onamia, MN. Merlyn graduated from St. Croix Falls High School in WI. He served in the Army from 1953-1956. Merlyn then married Hope Hochstetler on January 31, 1959 and raised three children. He worked for Otis Elevators as an electrician and lived in Inver Grove Heights until 1969. The family then moved to Grantsburg, WI where he was a dairy farmer. In 1991 he moved to Faribault, MN and worked for Jerome Foods as a farm manager until his retirement in 1999. Merlyn was an avid Vikings fan. He enjoyed watching golf, soccer and especially NCIS. He also enjoyed going to Mystic Lake and Little 6. He loved time with his family, especially watching the little great-grandchildren. Merlyn is survived by his wife, Hope; children, Annette (Dale) Motl, Blooming Prairie, MN, Laurie (Rick) Ernste, Elko, MN, and Ralph (Jody) Sjodin, Owatonna, MN; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren; 14 step-great-grandchildren; brothers, Clarence, Spring Lake Park, MN, Roland, Big Fork, MN; sister, Donna Keding, Eau Claire, WI; brother-in-law, Tom Taylor, Eau Claire, WI as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Leon; sister, Linda Taylor and brother-in-law, Don Keding. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 20165 Heath Avenue, Lakeville, MN. Lunch to follow. Memorials are preferred to Hospice or donor’s choice.