Vernard "Swede" Olek

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Vernard “Swede” Olek, 86, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in the Linden at Eventide in Moorhead.

Vernard “Swede” Clarence Olek was born on July 26, 1940, in Ada, MN to Oscar and Helen (Flynn) Olek. Vernard attended country school, then Felton Elementary and High School, where he was an avid athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated in 1958 and attended North Dakota Agriculture College in Fargo for one year.

Vernard met his wife, Rose Helen (Jereszek) in high school, growing up a mile apart, on their family farms. He married her on April 8, 1961, and they celebrated 63 years of marriage together. They raised 5 children in Felton, MN, and in 2007, moved off the farm to Moorhead, MN.

He was a hard-working man who raised dairy cattle while farming with his father and eventually his sons. In addition to this, he also worked full-time at the American Crystal Sugar Beet plant in the early years of their marriage. He later became a board member there, as well as a successful beet seed salesman, both of which allowed he and his wife to travel the world learning about many different agricultural methods of growing sugar and other crops.

He loved his family more than anything and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He was an extremely kind and giving man, a supportive father, an awesome grandpa, and a loyal friend to many people over the years. He loved farming, watching his grandkids play sports, fishing, bingo, gardening, traveling yearly to a timeshare in Las Vegas, and having his morning coffee with his many groups of friends over the years. His friendly smile, familiar chuckle, and good-natured spirit will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

Vernard is survived by his five children; Brian (Lori) Olek, Felton, MN; Melanie (John) Rasset, Barnesville, MN; Bradley (Angie Sirjord) Olek, Felton, MN; Robert Olek, Woodbury, MN; Patricia (James) Seidler, Dilworth, MN; and 12 grandchildren, Amber Olek, Heather Olek, Caitlin Olek, Bridgette (Brenna) Olek, Belle (Ross) Berger, Jarrett (Joanna) Olek, Ethan Rasset, Olivia Olek, Ellie (Carson) Haugen, Evan Rasset, Jack Seidler, and Maggie Seidler; and 4 great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Aubrey (Heather) Olek, Joseph and James (Jarrett) Olek; and one sister, JoAnne (Ron) Dawson, GA, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Vernard was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Helen Olek; his parents, Oscar and Helen Olek; in-laws, John and Leona Jereszek; sister Helen Joyce; and brothers Raymond, Kenneth, Johnny, and Oscar “Sonny” Olek.

A Visitation for Vernard will be Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM, Prayer Service in Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead. His Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, October 30, 2026, beginning at 10:00 AM, in St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, Dilworth, MN. He will be laid to rest in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead. MN.

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with Vernard’s family in the Guestbook below his obituary.

(Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN)