Wendell Tjon

March 21, 1917 - February 13, 2012

Wendell Norman Tjon was born March 21, 1917 to Torstein and Odel (Larson) Tjon on the family farmstead near Bottineau, ND. He graduated from Bottineau High School in 1935 and North Dakota School of Forestry, Bottineau, ND in 1937. Wendell continued his education at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN graduating in 1939 with a degree in Education. In 1966 he earned his Masters Degree in Music Education from MacPhail Music Center, Minneapolis, MN. He first taught music in Revillo, SD On June 4, 1941 he was united in marriage to Marjorie Krueger at Huron, SD. He continued teaching music in Willow River and Sherburn, MN before moving to Valley City, ND in 1944. He assumed directorship of vocal and instrumental music in the Valley City Public Schools system. Because of the growth of the school and music department, he gave up the vocal music in 1958, but continued with instrumental music until his retirement in 1979. Wendell was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Valley City and directed the Senior Church Choir for many years. He was a member of the North Dakota Education Association, the National Education Association, Music Educators National Conference and the Lutheran Brotherhood. Wendell's love of gardening for many decades produced abundant harvests of fruits and vegetables for family, friends and neighbors. His raspberry patch was especially popular with his grandchildren. He also had a great interest in history and current events, always keeping up with the news of the world. And, of course, music was his greatest passion in life. Over his forty years of service in several public school systems he taught thousands of students to play musical instruments of all kinds. Many of his pupils themselves went on to pursue satisfying careers in music. Wendell died at Bethany Homes in Fargo, ND on February 13, 2012. He is survived by a brother, Lowell Tjon, Lisbon, ND; sister-in-law, Evelyn (Norman) Tjon, Huntington Station, NY; two sons: Curtis (Mavis) Tjon, Fargo, ND and Douglas L. Tjon, West Fargo, ND; a daughter, Carolyn (Michael) Burnstein, Ann Arbor, MI. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Christopher (Kelly) Tjon, Phoenix, AZ; Stacey (Tom) Bossart, Fargo, ND; Jeremy (Tracy) Tjon, Moorhead, MN; Eric Burnstein, Ann Arbor, MI and Leah Burnstein, Austin, TX. Wendell has six surviving great-children, James Tjon, Phoenix, AZ; Owen, Briggs and Gage Tjon, Moorhead, MN; Gunnar and Gabby Bossart, Fargo, ND. He also leaves good friends, neighbors and extended family, Keith Jacobson, West Fargo, ND; Phyllis Richter, Valley City, ND, Carol and Allen Siebert, Valley City, ND; Charles and Phyllis Petersen, Fargo, ND; Rhea and Earl Mills, Wichita, KS, as well as many nieces and nephews. Wendell was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marjorie; three brothers, Orvin, Telford and Norman; four sisters, Inez Tjon, Alma Grimestad, Kelma Birkeland and Lenore Tonneson. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.