Merle Lloyd Bursheim was born July 22, 1937 in Erskine, MN to Conrad and Minnie (Olson) Bursheim. He was born a twin, but his brother, Johann Peder, did not survive birth. Merle died peacefully at his home in Minneapolis, MN at 73 years of age.

Merle lived in Winger, MN and Gary, MN as a young child. In 1942, during WII, Merle moved with his family to Tacoma, Washington. After the war, the family returned to Winger where Merle went to Winger Elementary School and later graduated from high school in McIntosh, MN. He graduated from Interstate Business College and was employed by his father as bookkeeper at Bursheim Plumbing and Electric. To make extra money as a young adult, Merle delivered the Minneapolis Tribune Sunday paper on an extensive rural route.

1965, Merle moved to Minneapolis and worked as a shipping clerk at Willoby Furriers, and at Horton's Tool and Die. His longest held position and the most enjoyed was his work in the Security Department at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

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Merle's hobbies included: watching sports, especially the Minnesota Vikings football and the Minnesota Twins baseball. He was an avid bookkeeper and enjoyed working with numbers in his ledgers. Merle loved his new car and whenever he visited northern MN he drove the old favorite country roads. Merle has an exceptionally precise memory. He was the man who could remember all dates, locations, birthdays and names in all the family history. He spoke often of vacations taken with family and how he enjoyed them.

Just this last year, while visiting his sister, Dorothy and brother-in-law Randy, Merle mastered the Nintendo Wii games of bowling and Frisbee. Before Christmas 2009, Merle and Dorothy made Christmas cookies from their mother's old favorite recipes.

As an adult, Merle made loyal friends and was deeply respected for his staunch independence. He had a wonderful sense of humor and dry wit. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by family and friends.

Merle is survived by his sisters, Jeanine (Bob) Perreault of Rio Hondo TX and Dorothy (Randy) Jacobson-Otte of Fargo, ND; a brother, Wayne (Corine) Bursheim of Lewistown, MT; 5 nieces and 3 nephews.

He is preceded in death by a twin brother; his parents; nephews, Timothy and Gabriel; a niece, Wendy; and several aunts and uncles.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, November 8, 2010 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Winger. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Monday.