Joseph Palmer Merseth was born on the family farm in Clearwater County on December 18, 1911 to parents Bernhard and Lena Merseth. He was the seventh of nine children. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Concordia Lutheran Church in Eddy township. He attended District 54 school in Eddy township and finished sixth grade. He went to work on the family farm and also spent some time working in Zumbrota with relatives. In the late thirties, Joe and brother Berman bought the Lundmark’s Café in downtown Bagley. He married Hennie Hanson on June 22, 1941.

Joe entered the military May 5, 1942 and traveled to Hattisburg, Mississippi for Basic Training. He remained in Mississippi with his outfit and trained at Leesville and Deridde, Louisiana.

In July of 1943, his outfit was heading to the European Theatre – but foot issues kept Joe from going overseas. Instead, he was sent to the 65th Air Engineering Squadron in Reno, Nevada (Army Air Force) where he worked on planes and as a guard (he had a trained dog for guard duty). He was designated an Airplane Engine Mechanic 747 and remained in Reno until the end of the war. Corporal Merseth was honorably discharged on November 7, 1945.

After World War II, Joe owned Hanson and Merseth Appliance Store with his brother-in-law Fritz Hanson. It was later changed to Merseth Clothing and Appliance Repair.  Joe purchased a convenience store at the junction of County 7 and highway 2 in Clearwater County in 1960. His family lived and worked at Merseth Corner Store until he sold it and retired in 1982. He and Hennie built a home in Bagley and lived there until his stroke in 1993.  He lived at the Greensview Nursing Home until his death on May 21, 1996.

Joe is buried next to his wife Hennie and daughter Janice, at Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Eddy township. He is survived by his children: Joe Jr, Jane and Mark. Blessed be his memory.