James Mesna

James Mahlon “Jim” Mesna, 70, of rural Fergus Falls, died Monday, September 12, 2011, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. He was born November 20, 1940, in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, the son of James E. and Ella M. (Samuelson) Mesna. He grew up and attended school in Pelican Rapids. He served in the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Germany. On March 8, 1968, he married Sharon K. Baglien in Webster, South Dakota. Jim was employed at the Mid Am Dairy in Fergus Falls for 30 years, retiring in 2002. He was a member of the American Legion, the Eagles, and First Lutheran Church. Jim loved nature and spending time outdoors, fishing, and feeding the birds. Preceding him in death were his parents, James E. Mesna and Ella M. Mesna-Peterson; his stepfather, James O. Peterson; his mother-in-law, Evelyn Baglien; his sister-in-law, Delores Nord; and three brothers-in-law, Eugene and Milt Baglien, and Willard Rieken. Survivors include his wife, Sharon, of Fergus Falls; three daughters: JoLynn Playle of Rochester, Patricia (Brian) Becker of Fergus Falls, and Jennifer Mesna of Rochester; four grandchildren: Lindsay Playle of Moorhead, Maxwell Playle, deployed with the U.S. Army in Iraq, and Madisen and Olivia Becker of Fergus Falls; two sisters-in-law, Ardis Rieken and Sally Baglien, both of Fergus Falls; and several other relatives. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Service: 1 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2011, at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Phil Tobin Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens in Fergus Falls Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.