Mike Bjorkman

Mike Bjorkman, age 71, met his Savior Jesus Christ in heaven on Friday, June 19, 2026, two days before his 72nd birthday.
Public visitation will be held at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora, on June 29, 2026 from 2 to 4 p.m. Memorials may be made in care of the family. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.
Michael Don Bjorkman was born June 21, 1954, in Aurora, the fourth of five children to Orville J. Bjorkman of Hordville, and Shirley D. Peterson of Marquette. He died on June 19, 2026, at the age of 71 from the effects of lifelong diabetes at Memorial Community Care in Aurora.
Mike attended school in Phillips until it closed and graduated from Aurora High School in 1972. After attending one semester at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, he returned to Phillips to the family farm.
The Orville Bjorkman family moved to Phillips in 1948 to operate a small dairy. It was sold and Orville focused on growing seed corn for Keith Heurmann’s new company Prairie Valley Hybrids. Prairie Valley went through many buyouts from corporations such as Syngenta, Novartis, and Northrup King. Bjorkman Farms, Inc. focused on seed corn production. In 1984, Mike took over daily operations and moved the company into the automated age of agriculture. BFI’s custom harvest crew picked seed corn throughout Hamilton and Merrick counties.
Orville and Mike were always willing to try new innovations or accept seed contracts for experimental numbers.   Caterpillar tractor and Oxbo seed head manufacturers loaned new units for them to operate and give feedback. The BFI shop was busy many winters while Mike and his team fabricated field implements or helped test new components invented by brothers Jay and Ned Groelz of Phillips. 
At the time the family corporation was dissolved in 2013, Mike’s team included his son Eric, brother-in-law Rodney Howland, and long-time employee David Nielsen. Mike and Dave created Blue Sky Ag in 2014 and continued to focus on seed corn production. Mike retired in 2018 when diminishing health required him to take residence at The Heritage Assisted Living in Grand Island.
Mike grew up attending Monroe Evangelical Free Church in Marquette, where he enjoyed friendships with the kids of area farm families which included Anderson, Carlson, Elge, Forsman, Gustafson, Nelson, Paschke, Peard, and Warren, among others. In 1970, he started attending the newly established Aurora Evangelical Free Church. He stayed for many years volunteering as an Awana Bible Club leader and serving on the church board. 
Mike loved the land, but when he was out of the tractor, he relaxed playing Beatles tunes and 1960 and 70’s rock on his 1972 Martin D-18 6 string acoustic guitar. Winter sports included downhill skiing in Colorado and racquetball. Warm weather was for scuba diving, golf and deer hunting. For a time, he built and flew radio-controlled airplanes with a local club. He enjoyed riding Fred, a retired racehorse he inherited from his uncle Freddy Jones, Fred’s trainer.
Mike married Jo Ann Grim on December 27, 1975, at the Evangelical Free Church in Grand Island. They remained married until 2016. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and an infant granddaughter.
He is survived by his children Mandy (Ben) Hilsabeck of Platte City, MO; Eric (Michelle) Bjorkman of Aurora; grandchildren Ayden Hilsabeck, Timothy, Alexandra, Sierra Bjorkman. Other survivors include his brothers Laurence of Aurora; Randall (Linda) of Coweta, OK; and sisters, Judith Howland (Rodney), of Aurora; Dee Ann Hart (David) of Hastings, as well as many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.