Former Clay County, Minnesota Sheriff Bill Bergquist was laid to rest today after a ceremony held at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Prairie Public’s Danielle Webster prepared this remembrance.
—-
Bergquist and his high school sweetheart, PeggyAnn Lenzmeier were married in 1979, the same year he embarked on a lifelong career of public service. Bergquist was a volunteer fire fighter in high school, became a volunteer Peace Officer for Clay County and served as Loss Prevention manager for the Holiday Corporation. Before he began his 14-year career at the Moorhead Police Department in 1988, Bergquist worked for both the Dilworth and Glyndon Police Departments. In Moorhead, he served as patrolman, DARE officer, and as a hostage negotiator for the Red River Valley SWAT Team. He was elected Sheriff of Clay County in 2002, and served for 16 years before his retirement in 2019.
That year, Bergquist was honored locally as a “hometown hero.”
Bergquist’s former colleague Chris Carey says he made Moorhead his home, due in part to Bill Bergquist.
Bergquist is survived by his son Michael, daughter Marissa and her family, as well as his large extended family.
His wife “Annie” died earlier this year in April.