Delmer Blegen, age 74, of Spring Valley, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, at the Spring Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center.
On Nov. 30, 1950, Hank and Mardell and four older brothers welcomed a “lusty” 10-pound newcomer Delmer John. Two hours after first breath he sustained third degree burns on his right leg, upper thigh to ankle. Dr. Conway said he probably wouldn’t survive the night. Boy, did he fool them!
He grew up (sometimes!), graduating the youngest in his class at SVHS in 1968, then matriculating four years at WSU-River Falls, majoring in history and political science (that’s a science??) but not graduating. He worked summers with Gunderson Construction then full-time in 1973. In 1979, he worked with Klund Construction in Hudson laying block, brick, and real stone. In 1979, he started his own masonry business, Nörland Construction which lasted until retirement in 2012.
In 1975, he married Ellen Zimmer and welcomed Sara, Brent, and Alicia to the world. Countless memories of reading to the kids, sage advice given, and sense of humor shared. The marriage ended in 1987. In 1988, he started sniffing on his widowed neighbor and she finally succumbed on Aug. 4, 1992, at the ‘Little Brown Church.’ Sandy had two daughters of her own, Dana and Cynda McCoy and they were welcomed to the tribe.
From his mother he got his nasty sense of humor, his love of fur-bearing animals and also spiders, snakes, and five-lined skinks. Her mother was Mollie Jenson, who had a lion, monkeys, two bears, badgers, coons, and skunks. He always liked the smell of skunks because he immediately went back to Grandma’s. And cats. From his dad, he got honesty, love of hard physical work, love of baseball and the thought that you’re not better than anyone else. And did I say passionate about baseball and its history? He was an ardent follower of the Milwaukee Braves, Wisconsin Badgers, old Boston Celtics (60s) and had deep-seated hatred for anything Minnesota except the North Star hockey team that left for Dallas (thanks to Sid Hartman). Enough!
In 1999, he was diagnosed with “idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy” and was told he would probably need a heart transplant within three years. His ejection fraction was measured at 15% three different times - you’re dead if it gets to 10%. With the miracle of modern medicine and tremendous self-discipline (ha!), he continued to flourish until 2020 when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. The Frenchman tried to do a lobectomy but apparently, he was dying on the table and he had to do a “wedge.” The cancer has returned. He went to see his classmates, teammates, workmates, and family. He won’t be back.
He is survived by his wife Sandy, children Sara of Minneapolis, Brent (Shana) of Hudson, Alicia of Brooklyn, NY, Dana McCoy of East Weston, Cynda (Jeff) Sanders of Colorado Springs, Colo. Grandchildren Simon Kindvall, Marit and Silje Blegen, Alayna and Payton Bahr, Stella Sanders. Brothers Dean (JoEllen) of Coon Valley, Wis., Dennis (Barb) of Wilson, sisters-in-law Donna of Spring Valley, and Jean of Woodville. Preceded by Hank & Mardell, step-dad Dick Friedrich, brother Doug, brother Don, most of the gang at Gunderson Construction, Paul Fitzjarell, Bob DeLong, Larry Lynum, and many friends.
All thanks to United Hospital and the Spring Valley Care Facility, for making it possible for him to come back home again.
Please join the family for a visitation and Celebration of Life for Delmer on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, from 2-5 p.m. at the Spring Valley Community Center.
A memorial service will be Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at 12 noon at Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley.
Burial will be in Gilman Lutheran Cemetery, Spring Valley.
Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley is handling arrangements
