Funeral services for Bret J. "BJ" Marxsen, age 40 of Mandan, will be held at 11:00 am MT Friday, February 5, 2010 at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon. Deacon Bill Dustman will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery.


Serving as casket bearers are Shawn Siebert, Quint Borchert, Josh Borchert, Michael Bryggare, Jason, Chris, Preston, and David Meyer.


All friends and family are considered honorary casket bearers.


A memorial has been established.


BRET JOHN MARXSEN "BJ to his many friends" was born September 5, 1969 in Skokie, Illinois to John Bruce Marxsen and Sherrie Dee Kelly. He moved with his mother and sisters to Las Vegas, NV where BJ attended school. He lived in Las Vegas for 27 years and worked on the construction of new homes.


He moved to Kansas City, KS and spent some time in Chicago. In 2000, he moved to Lemmon where he worked for Earl Stugelmeyer Construction and Chuck Anderson Construction. In 2001, BJ had met Jennifer Borchert and lived there until their son Chase was born. BJ and Jennifer lived in Batesville, Arkansas, Bismarck, North Dakota, Lemmon, South Dakota, and Gillette, Wyoming before moving to Mandan, ND.


BJ was united in marriage to Jennifer on September 13, 2003 at Shadehill, SD.


BJ enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed the outdoors, together with family, spent many nights around the fire pit. BJ was always the center of attention at any family function and loved it. BJ was a very determined and talented man and once he put his mind to something he wouldn't stop until it was completed. He will be missed by his loving wife, son, and daughter, and all friends and family.


BJ passed away on Sunday evening, January 31, 2010 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.


He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, 1 son, Chase Marxsen, 2 daughters, Cayla Marxsen, and Victoria Ingram, his mother, Sherrie Borders, 3 sisters, Kelly Neist, Pamela Meyer, and Kristel Fiasco, his mother and father-in-law, Del and Linda Borchert, 2 brothers-in-law, Quint Borchert and Josh Borchert; and his grandmother-in-law, Christine Messmer.


He was preceded in death by his father John Marxsen, brothers, Bryan David Bryggare, and Edward Allen Borders II, his grandfathers, Ray Kelly and Al VanAlstine, grandmother, Dorothy VanAlstine, and grandfather-in-law, Joseph Messmer.


Visitation will be Thursday, 1:00 to 9:00 pm, Friday 9:00am to 11:00 am at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.