Bjerkens Memorial Service set for Friday

PALMER — A memorial service is at Colony High School at 3 p.m., Friday for Randy and Doris Bjerken who were killed on Mother’s Day while walking down a sidewalk in Scottsdale, Ariz.

A Bjerken Donation Account has been established at AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union to help offset funeral costs. The account is No. 1600348.

Doris Bjerken was an administrative secretary at Colony High School and her husband Randy Bjerken had served as a minister at the Matanuska Assembly of God since 1995.

The couple was reportedly visiting Arizona on a Matanuska Assembly of God retreat.

“This is a great loss for the Bjerken children, as well as the Matanuska Assembly and the Alaska Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God,” Ministry Network Superintendent Bill Welch said Monday. “Human words are not sufficient to bring understanding in an hour of such tragic loss.”

Welch said Rev. Bjerken served the Assemblies of God Fellowship as an ordained minister for 26 years, and at Matanuska Assembly of God since 1995.

The church at 12801 West Arctic Ave. in Palmer held a prayer gathering Monday evening.

Mat-Su Borough School District Spokeswoman Catherine Esary said the entire district is mourning the loss and that extra counselors are on hand at CHS.

“Everyone in the district knows and loves Doris and she will be greatly missed,” Esary said. “It’s just sad for everyone. I’ve had calls from lots of administrative staff to help the family any way they can.”

She said the couple’s four children all attended CHS and one is still a student there.

According to KNXV television news in Scottsdale, a 23-year-old male driver drove a GMC sport utility vehicle onto the sidewalk and struck the couple and a power pole. Both people were pronounced dead at nearby hospitals.

Scottsdale authorities said they don’t believe drugs or alcohol played a part in the accident, but it is still under investigation. The driver was treated and released for nonlife-threatening injuries.

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.mckee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.