Merle W. Gullekson, 79, Perley, Minnesota, passed away at Essentia Health in Fargo on December 21, 2017.

Merle Warren Gullekson was born December 23, 1937, in Ada, MN to Jack and Fern (Ambuehl) Gullekson. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Ada.  He graduated from Ada High School with the Class of '55.  During his high school years he worked for his dad at Ada Dairy delivering milk.  In 1955, Merle joined the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Carson, CO and Fort Benning, GA.  In 1956, he started work with Western Electric in Minneapolis.  He went home to Ada to help his dad in the Dairy Bar for a few years, but returned to Western Electric in 1961, retiring in 1994 from what became AT&T.  In his retirement, he worked seasonally for Trygve Skolness farms, Georgetown Elevator, Perley Co-op, Richards Transportation, and most recently driving bus for Ada-Borup School District.

In 1957, Merle married Beverly Vigesaa in Twin Valley, MN. They made their family home in north Moorhead.  To this union were born three children, Douglas in 1958, Lori in 1963, and James in 1974; and subsequently ten grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.  Beverly died in March, 1987.  In 1995, Merle married Sally Larson in Ada.  They moved to a farm near Perley where they have lived since.  In 2006, they adopted three sisters from Russia to join their family; Evgenia, Maria, and Radmila, who were ages ten, seven, and six at the time.

Merle was always very active in his community and loved to volunteer. He has been active in American Legion in Moorhead and Fargo, 40&8, Masonic Lodge in Moorhead, Demolay, FM and Ada Bowling Associations, FM Bowling Hall of Fame, El Zagal Shrine, Shrine Circus, Jesters group, Shrine Gaming manager, FM Softball, RRV Sportsmens Club, Wild Turkey Federation, Telephone Pioneers, Ada-Borup Boosters, Kirkebo Church, Lee Township clerk, Lee-Perley Fire Department, and NDSU Bison Teammakers.  He loved to cook for his family and large group; heading up the Vets Day Legion Stew, the Shrine Circus kitchen manager, making dumplings at the Perley Cenex Café, his famous French fries at Ada-Borup and Norman Co West youth activities, the El Zagal Provost's Annual Beer Stube event, NDSU Bison Football tailgating, and of course, family gatherings.  He enjoyed bowling, playing cards, darts, shaking dice, sports boards and football pools, classic cars, hunting, fishing, and camping.  He enjoyed his yardwork and grew a huge garden each year, sharing his produce with others.  He volunteered for anything that involved his children.  He loved to watch all sports including many Moorhead, Ada-Borup, and NDSU football, basketball, and softball teams, along with MN Vikings and Twins games.  Socializing with friends was a high priority of Merle's, along with spending time and making memories with his large family.  He lived life to the fullest.

Merle is survived by his wife, Sally, his children, Douglas (Dawn) Gullekson, Lori (Pat) Hust, and James Gullekson, all of Fargo-Moorhead, Genia, Masha, and Rada of Perley; his grandchildren that he loved so much, Peter (Allie) Smith Jr, Brady Smith, Joshua (Heather) Smith, Jessica (David Johnson) Smith, Justin Gullekson, Amanda (Chris Korsgarden) Gullekson, Aleshia (Tino Gonzalez )Gullekson, Brandon Gullekson, and Sayla Gullekson, and many great grandchildren; his sister, Pat (Jerry) Farol; sisters and brothers-in law, Kathy (Dan) Bredman, Sue (Don) Merkens, Margaret Larson, Paul Larson, Elizabeth (David) Heitman, Jeanna (Ron) Lakeman, his mother-in-law, Myrna Larson, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Fern, his wife, Beverly, his granddaughter, Sarah Gullekson, his sister, Sandra Jenkinson, brother, Kaynard, and the Vigesaa in-laws, Jimmy, Larry, and Patsy & Floyd Pawlak, and Earle Finch, father-in-law, Glenn Larson, favorite aunt, Renee Hovden, and favorite uncles, Red and Elliot Ambuehl.

Funeral: 1:00PM Wednesday, December 27, 2017, at Kirkebo Lutheran Church, Perley, MN.

Visitation: Tuesday, December 26, 2017 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM with a 6:30PM prayer service at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Ada, MN.