Services for Bernard Picolet
Bernard Picolet, 85 of Grygla, MN passed away on Monday, March 11, 2019 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at Grace Lutheran Church in Grygla, MN with Rev. Vicki Saude-Worthington officiating. Burial will follow at St. Olaf Cemetery near Grygla with military honors provided by the Grygla American Legion Post Post 162, Ecklund-Holmstrom American Legion Post 117, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793 and United States Air Force Honor Guard.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at Grace Lutheran Church in Grygla. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.
Bernard Vinson Picolet was born on September 8, 1933 in Pierre, SD the youngest of four children to Lester and Doris (Shaw) Picolet. He was raised in Mildred, MN and attended school there. He resided in Cass Lake from 1960-1982 and in Grygla from 1982 until he passed away.
Bernie served in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1956. He was stationed in Korea and served during the Korean War. One of his duties was an airframe repairman repairing bullet holes in airplanes. He was Honorably Discharged and later served in the Army Reserve from 1976-1978.
On August 31, 1957, Bernie was married to Sally Gushwa. Three children were born to this union, Rachelle, Melessa and Vinson. On February 5, 1982 he married Barbara Nomeland and settled at the log home which they built near Grygla.
Bernie worked as a logger and for Heemstra Saw Mills as an edger man and a sawyer in Cass Lake. He worked in a mill in Bagley, MN. Bernie also bartended at the American Legion in Cass Lake. During this time, he owned and operated Picolet Burner Service for 5 years as he was licensed to do furnace repair. His favorite job was working at the Saw Mill. He operated this business until he moved to Grygla, MN when he fell in love with the most beautiful girl in the world. Bernie worked at Machinewell in Grygla, MN for 21 years until he retired at the young age of 70.
Bernie loved to burn wood and keep his wood stove full in the winter months. He also enjoyed woodworking, fishing and camping. He enjoyed doing his yardwork and he and Barb were proud of their yard. Bernie was a handyman. He built his house in Cass Lake and also the house and garage he and Barb lived in. He was a devoted Christian who enjoyed doing Bible study either on-line or watching religious programming on television. His faith in our Lord was very strong.
Bernie was a member of the American Legion in Cass Lake from 1972-1981. He is a lifetime member of the VFW in Grygla and Thief River Falls. He is instrumental in forming the American Legion in Grygla and is a charter member there. He served as a Commander twice at the American Legion in Cass Lake and twice in Grygla. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Grygla. In 2015 he was recognized for 50 years of service to the American Legion.
Survivors include his loving wife of 37 years, Barbara of Grygla; children, Rachelle (Terry Bartles) Fuller of Caledonia, MN; Melessa Hunter of Rio Rancho, NM and Vinson (Cindy) Picolet of Stuart, FL; Barb’s children, Gordy (Marcie) Moe, Tony (Connie) Moe all of Grygla; Cynthia (Rick Carlson) Nordby of Minneapolis, James (Lisa) Moe of Princeton, MN, Jill (Steve) Birkholz of Lino Lakes and Wayne (Jeri) Nomeland of Thief River Falls;
Grandchildren, Jeremy (Tonya) Fuller and their children Kora, Katelyn, Chase and Brayden, Jennifer Degn and her daughter Carissa, Brent (Beth) Fuller and their son Carson, Ross Fuller and his children Dylan, Mason, Bailey and Blake, Jaime Fredrickson and her children Jolicia, Minikwe and Garisen, Cole Fredrickson and Kyle Fredrickson, Heather (Brad) Snipes and their son Ayden, Amber Picolet (Sean McCarthy) and their children Sean, Austin and Sawyer and Ryan Picolet and his children Breonna and Amya; Kelsie (Josh) Saunders, Bethany (Daniel) Abrahamson and their children Aiden and Adlee, David (Veronica) Moe and their son Gunnar, Kim (John) Sund, Erika (Matt) Bowen and their children Sam and Annika, Barbara (Dave) Nelson and their children Colton and Easton, Amanda Nordby, Kyle (Shannon) Birkholz, Cori (Charlie) Buchberger, Anthony Moe, Emma Moe, Abbie Nomeland and Alex Nomeland; brother-in-law, Laverne Hamre; sister-in-law, Frances Aandal; special friends, Delvin and Mary Heemstra and Brad Fuller; and many nieces and nephews including Keith Picolet and Kim Picolet.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Doris Picolet; brothers, Leonard Picolet, Kenneth Picolet and LeRoy Picolet; son-in-law, Ronald Hunter; sisters-in-law, Marge Picolet, Mary Picolet, Marilyn Hamre, Beverly Hamre and Connie Hamre; brothers-in-law, Leighton Hamre, Gerald Hamre, Ray Aandal and Ronald Hamre; nephew, Kevin Hamre; father and mother-in-law, Melvin and Gladys Hamre.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
