Corrine Bjelland Obituary

Corrine Bjelland, age 83, passed away on January 12, 2026 at Lilac Homes Assisted Living Memory Care in Dilworth, MN after suffering from dementia.

Corrine was born to Raphael and Marion (Bierwerth) Connolly on September 5, 1942 in St. Paul, MN. She was the oldest of six children and graduated from North St. Paul High School in 1960.

She married Duane "Dewey" Bjelland on September 18, 1965. They met while both working for the State of Minnesota, Department of Agriculture. They moved to Chisago City, MN where they lived on Green Lake for many years. In 1978, they moved to Dent, MN where they continued to raise their five children and Corrine was a stay-at-home mom. Together they shared 61 wonderful years of marriage.

Some of her hobbies included gardening, canning, reading, sewing and going on bike rides with her dogs Cody and Buddy riding along in a basket. Corrine thoroughly enjoyed going on cruises and traveling south for the winters. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and a Cub Scout Den Mother when her boys were young. During her teenage years she traveled all over Europe, an experience she reminisced about many times over the years.

After Dewey retired, they spent their winters in Labelle, Florida where Corrine thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather and the active social life of their 55 and older community. Corrine dearly loved spending time with family at the farm in Dent and down in Florida during the winter months.

Corrine will be greatly missed by her loving family and many friends.

Corrine had many beautiful and unique quotes that touched us all. Two of her favorites were "Life Is Good" and "Life Is Good in The Manure Hatchery".

Corrine was preceded in death by her father, Raphael Connolly; mother, Marion Bierwerth; sister, Joanne Murphy; brothers, Dennis Connolly and Tom Connolly; daughter-in-law, Kelli Bjelland; and granddaughter, Hallie Bjelland.

She is survived by her husband, Dewey; five children, Dan Bjelland, Joe Bjelland, Ted (Devine) Bjelland, Andy (Rhonda) Bjelland, and Rakha Bjelland; brothers, David Connolly and Paul Connolly; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will take place this Spring (2026) at the family farm in Dent, MN, Date TBD.