Gerald Stoa Hojberg

Gerald Stoa Hojberg, 90, passed away Monday, April 15, 2024. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 22, 2024 at Community Lutheran church in Geneva at 11AM. Burial will be held at the Geneva Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be held for an hour prior to the service at the church and from 3-5PM on Sunday, April 21 at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home. Pastor Leandra Anderson will be officiating.

Gerald was born at home near Geneva, MN to Peder Einer and Myrtle (Stoa) Hojberg on May 28, 1933. His family moved closer to Clarks Grove when he was a young boy. Gerald attended country school just down the road from the farm. Gerald finished 8^th grade at the country school to then assist his father on the farm.

He was married to Dona DeRaad to divorce several years later. They had two daughters, Barbara, and Jeanette.   

Gerald bought the family farm in the early 1960’s. In the 1970’s, he was known for his Clay Honey Wagon rentals and Push Button Farming equipment sales. He sold used equipment and always seemed to have a part or know someone that had the part for any piece of farm equipment or tractor that a customer was looking for.

He started a septic tank cleaning business for rural homes. Gerald loved his septic tank cleaning business. He would go out on Sundays, Holidays or at the last minute to help someone whose tank was backing up and going to ruin a family get together. He could drive down any county road in the surrounding area and tell us he cleaned this person’s tank or if he had done it more than once. He would tell stories about how he saved a family get together or would be invited in to eat with them.  

Gerald loved the Trails Truck stop until he could not drive that far. He enjoyed the conversations with the local people, truckers and of course the waitresses.  Whether it was morning or afternoon, we knew we could find him at his favorite place for coffee, the former Gopher Stop in Clarks Grove.   This is where he would debate politics, talk farming, grain prices, roll dice and joke with his friends and the workers there.

Gerald moved to Whispering Oaks in Ellendale in 2019, which was home till January 2023. He moved to Bancroft Creek Estates by Albert Lea to be closer to family and friends.

He is survived by his daughters Barbara Langerud of Colorado Springs, CO. and Jeanette Beenken of Glenville, MN. Grandchildren Hillarie Langerud, Albert Lea, Natalie (Andrew) Marshall, Colorado Springs, Logan Beenken (Meridith), Marshall, MN.  Great grandchildren, Jarrett Langerud, Julian Langerud, and Brynn Marshall of Colorado Springs, along with many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Gunhild Hojberg, and sister and brother-in-law, Eleanor and Ferris Peterson.

I would like to thank all the people of the Clarks Grove, Geneva and Ellendale communities who kept an eye on Gerald before he moved to assisted living. There were so many kind and considerate people who would help him in the doors, get his coffee for him, follow behind him at 45 miles per hour and grudgingly but also knowing that one day they will be him and hope that someone would be as kind. Thank you to all of you who came the summer of 2019, to buy his old farm equipment, tractors, and rummage through all his parts that he had saved for years. I loved all the stories and fond memories that summer.  After living in a big city for so many years, I had forgotten the kindness and consideration that rural community people share with each other when someone is in need. I thanked the Lord for all of you each time, I went back to Colorado Springs.

The care given to Gerald was excellent along with the kindness and support to the family by the staff at Bancroft Creek, Good Samaritan Center, and St Croix Hospice. You all put a smile on his face, as I know he put a smile on your face too, with the conversations and his quirky comments. Please make any donations to Bancroft Creek Assisted Living, St Croix Hospice or Good Samaritan Society.

Sincerely Barbara Langrud