Jane Gerdes

M Jane Gerdes, age 95, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026 at St. Catherine’s South Nursing home in Fargo, ND.

Jane was born on December 5, 1930 in the New Salem, ND area to Clayton and Mollie (Carrick} Leach. She was raised with her younger brother, Bing, on a farm about 10 miles west of New Salem and graduated from New Salem HS in 1947; She attended Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND and then went on to work for a year at the Capitol building in Bismarck, ND. She was then hired to work in Fargo for Rabbi Plout. It was here, in Fargo, that she met her husband to be, Lloyd Gerdes. They were United in marriage on September 2, 1950 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in downtown Fargo. They were married for 53 years until Lloyd’s death in 2003.

Lloyd & Jane moved to Mankato, MN for a brief time and then moved back to Moorhead, MN where they raised their nine children and attended St Francis de Sales church. As one friend stated, “Jane was a pillar of the church.” She was very involved in activities including Christian Mothers, CCD, Cursillo, Bible Study Fellowship and serving Meals on Wheels. She also tutored “new American” women in the English language. Jane was an avid quilter. She was gifted in creating eye-catching quilts, table runners, Christmas tree skirts and wall hangings. She also enjoyed playing pinochle & euchre, reading, embroidery, gardening, canning and walking. She was famous for her delicious grape jelly and her apple pies.

After raising her children, Jane again entered the work force. She worked at Gottlieb for several years and then finished her career working in the Communications department at Concordia College where she made several great friends.

Jane is survived by her children: Tim (Barb) Gerdes, Thomas Gerdes, and Dave Gerdes all from the Minneapolis area, Claudia Gerdes Fergus Falls, Mike (Jane) Gerdes and John (Shari) Gerdes from the Erhard area living on Heilberger Lake, Mary Broberg, Fargo, Julie (John) Meaux, New Richmond, WI.

Grandchildren Joy, Nate, Kathryn, Luke and Mark Gerdes, Dayna Engberg, Eden Broberg, Raven Broberg, Matthew Gerdes Williams, Jessica (Ben) Hegseth, Amanda Meaux, Ashley (Zach) Morris, Jared Meaux and Jordan (Madison) Meaux; Great-grandchildren McKinley, Rowan and Josiah Hegseth, Nash, Cohen and Vivienne Morris; She is also survived by many nieces and nephews

Jane was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd Gerdes, parents Clayton and Mollie Leach, brother Eldon (Bing) Leach, her daughter Cindy Gerdes, son-in-law Allan Broberg and grandson Joshua Gerdes.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 1 PM Thursday, June 18, 2026 at St. Francis de Sales Church in Moorhead with visitation 1 hour before. Burial will be at 3PM at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in Moorhead.

We are grateful to the kind & loving staff at St Catherine’s South Nursing Home.