Merritt (Swede) Ogren

Merritt (Swede) Ogren

Merritt (Swede) Ogren, age 88 of Edgeley, ND, died Friday, June 30 at Meritcare hospital, Fargo, ND.

Merritt O. Ogren the son of Hugo A. and Katherine E. (Davidson) Ogren was born April 24, 1918 in Swede Township near Kulm, N.D.

He grew up and attended school in Swede Township. He attended Edgeley High School where he participated and lettered in football and basketball.


After high school he joined the Army National Guard. In 1941 his unit was activated into the army. His military service was with the 164th Infantry in the Pacific Theater in Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Guadalcanal and Bogainville.


He returned to Edgeley in December, 1944. He married Marguerite Herzer on December 10, 1944 at Wesley United Methodist Church, Edgeley, ND. They lived on Army bases in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi until his discharge from the army in October of 1945.

They settled in Edgeley, where Merritt worked at the Edgeley Creamery first as a bulk milk driver, then as a butter maker. After the creamery closed its doors, Merritt became a local milk distributor for his own business, the Edgeley Dairy Co. His milk route included Ellendale, Merricourt, Monango, Edgeley, Nortonville, Jud and farms in between.

He retired from business in 1982. After retirement from the dairy business, he and Marguerite served as custodians for Wesley United Methodist Church. They were also caretakers for Mount Hope Cemetery.


His service to the Edgeley community included: City Councilman, City Magistrate and Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church serving on numerous committees for the church. He was a long time member of the Edgeley Lions Club. He was Boy Scout troop leader and a member of the Boy Scout Order of Arrow. He was also on the Committee for Youth Baseball and was a P.T.A. president. He was a member of the V.F.W., American Legion and the 164th Infantry Association.

He played N.D. amateur baseball for Swede Township, Kulm and Edgeley teams. After retiring as an active player, he was manager for the Edgeley team. He umpired local soft ball games and state tournament baseball games. He was inducted into the N.D. Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976 and the N.D. American Legion Baseball Hall of fame in 1998.

Merritt was an avid sports enthusiast and enjoyed attending sports events of all kinds. He worked on the chain line for local high school football games for many years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor picnics with family. He also enjoyed visiting with family and friends. He especially enjoyed attending activities involving his granddaughters.

Merritt is survived by his wife, children Corbley (Carol) Ogren, Linton, ND, Meredith (Elliott) Meidinger, Jamestown, ND, and Bradley (Denise) Ogren, Sioux Falls, SD; a sister, LaVerne (Floyd) Fredenburg, Edgeley,ND; four granddaughters, Jami (Jared) Falk, Argusville, ND, Jenesa (Sheldon) Feist, Washburn, ND Julianna Ogren, Jamestown and Jocelyn Meidinger, Jamestown; and two great-grandsons, Aden and Austin Falk, Argusville, ND.

Merritt was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Orville and two sisters, Bernice Nast and Doris West.
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2006 at Wesley United Methodist Church, Edgeley, ND.

Prayer Service: 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 4th at Lisko Funeral Chapel, Edgeley, ND.
Visitation: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Lisko Funeral Chapel, Edgeley, ND and at the church for 1 hour prior to services on Wednesday.
Interment: Mount Hope Cemetery, Edgeley, ND.

Memorials: in lieu of flowers, Wesley United Methodist Church, Edgeley and the Edgeley Youth Program.