Gerald Hearnen

August 14, 1927 - April 24, 2012

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Gerald Hearnen, 84, Fargo, ND, passed away Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at the Palliative Care Unit of Sanford Health, Fargo.

Jerry was born on August 14, 1927, in rural Turton, SD, to William and Elvira (Wettstein) Hearnen.  He grew up and attended school in Conde, SD, graduating from Conde High School in 1945.  He served in the United States Navy from 1945-1946 and then attended Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD.   He worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as a Bank Examiner until his retirement in 1988.

He married Karen Anderson on May 18, 1963, in Minneapolis, MN, and they lived with their children in Aberdeen, SD; Rochester, MN; Grand Forks, ND; and Fargo, ND.

Jerry enjoyed golf, watching Cardinals and Redhawks baseball, researching his ancestry, Jeopardy!, hard work, pheasant hunting and attending events in Conde.  He and Karen enjoyed three trips to Ireland in his pursuit of discovering his ancestry.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Hearnen, Fargo, ND; children; Jean (Jeff) Peterson, Fargo, ND, Peggy Curtis, Farmington, MN, and Kevin (Terri) Hearnen, New Hope, MN; five grandchildren, John and Kellie Peterson, Sarah and Molly Curtis, and Olivia Hearnen; brothers, William (Patsie) Hearnen, Conde, SD, and Norb (Donna) Hearnen, Conde, SD; sister, Maxine Bertsch, Phoenix, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Elvira Hearnen, his brother, Bernie Hearnen, his brother, Tom Hearnen, his sister, Blanche Warner, and his son-in-law, Dan Curtis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Jerry's father and uncle, Bill and Jim Hearnen, were in the lumber and construction business. They put out a business card which said:  “Think big, talk little, love  much, laugh easily, work hard, give freely, pay cash and be kind – IT IS ENOUGH – do these and you may smoke and drink without danger to your immortal soul.”