Gerald "Jerry" Midstokke

To view a recording of Jerry's funeral service, click the following link; https://vimeo.com/900178637?share=copy

Gerald (Jerry) Keith Midstokke passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at Maple View Memory Care in Grand Forks at the age of 80.

Jerry was born in Seattle, Washington to Minor and Lillian (Nyhus) Midstokke.  He attended schools in Seattle, Finley and Lakota, North Dakota, graduating from Lakota High School in 1961. He went on to study Electrical Technology at North Dakota State School of Science (NDSSS) in Wahpeton.  In 1965 he was hired at Ulteig Engineers in Fargo.

On August 6, 1966, Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Rita Marie Dahl, at United Lutheran Church in Brocket, ND. They moved to Fargo, Devils Lake, and Moorhead, eventually landing in Grand Forks when he began working at Minnkota Power Cooperative in 1968. Jerry worked as a substation electrician, then as Safety and Job Training Director.  In this position, he was elected Secretary of the National Utility Training and Safety Education Association (NUTSEA).  He loved his job and his colleagues and worked there for 30 years.

Jerry and Rita had three daughters – Robyn, Kerri and Michelle. Jerry was a doting, adoring father and husband who loved all four of his girls dearly.

In his retirement, Jerry enjoyed taking care of his rental property, spending time at the lake, fishing, watching sports, and enjoying time with family and friends.  He also loved helping others and visiting with his neighbors.  When he saw a friend in the grocery store, they had better not have ice cream in their cart!

Jerry started having memory problems and was tested and diagnosed with Dementia in 2014.  The disease slowly progressed to the point in Fall 2023 when he moved into Maple View Memory Care in Grand Forks.  The staff took excellent care of Jerry – and enjoyed his warm, playful personality saying he had “a heart of gold.”

In the middle of the night on December 30, Jerry died peacefully in his sleep, being reunited with his parents and other beloved family members and friends in heaven.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Minor and Lillian Midstokke, and his wife’s parents, Melvin and Gladys Dahl.  He is survived by his wife, Rita (Dahl), daughters, Robyn Gardner (Grand Forks), Kerri Hjelmstad (Grand Forks), and Michelle (Jonathan) Brislin (Shakopee, MN), eight grandchildren - Keaton Hjelmstad, Callie Hjelmstad, Jay Hjelmstad, Matthew Hjelmstad, Lillian Gardner, Madison Brislin, Bennett Walters, and Joseph Brislin as well as many friends and family members in the region and around the country.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 4 at 5:00 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm.  The funeral will be on Friday, January 5 at 1:00 pm.  Both celebrations will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, ND.