In Memory
TED BURGER
September 20, 1944 - May 4, 2026
Ted was born September 20, 1944, in Minneapolis, MN, at Swedish Hospital as an identical
twin. He was the son of Clement and Evelyn Burger.
Ted graduated in 1962 from St. Louis Park High School. He then attended college for four years,
including at BSU. He and his twin brother Bud enlisted in the Air Force Security Command with
crypto clearances and received an Honorable Discharge in 1969.
Ted’s love of the outdoors led him and his brother to found Burger Brothers Outdoor Outfitters,
which operated from 1970 to 1995 and became the leading sporting goods retailer in the Upper
Midwest. Over those 25 years, their shared hunting and fishing adventures took them across
four continents—North America, South America, Africa, and Europe—and to ten countries,
including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, the Bahamas, Russia, Namibia,
Tanzania, Zambia, and South Africa. Their passion for fishing culminated in Burger Brothers’
induction into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2017.
A couple of years after opening the store, Ted met his future wife Kathy when she came in to
say hello to a former classmate. After a short courtship, they married in August 1972. Son Andy
was born in 1976 and daughter Sally in 1978. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in
2022.
The Burger brothers and their wives found paradise in 1992 west of Bemidji. They would
eventually make this their permanent residence in retirement. So many good times were spent
hunting, fishing, trapping, berry-picking, and working in the forest.
Ted’s love for saltwater sport fishing brought him to Cabo San Lucas, where he and Kathy
enjoyed many winters of fishing, exploring, recreating, and establishing lifelong friends.
Preceded in death by his wife Kathy, parents Clem and Evelyn Burger, and sisters Rochelle
Gorder and Diane Lark.
Ted is survived by his son Andy, daughter Sally (Ryan) Knapp,
grandchildren Mackenzie and Charlie, twin brother Bud (Jan) Burger, and their son Mike and
family.
Memorials may be made to the Bemidji Area “Take a Kid Fishing” or the “MN-FISH” Sport Fishing Foundation.
Condolences may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.
Service
Thursday, May 14, 2026
First Presbyterian Church Bemidji
501 Minnesota Avenue NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
Visitation is an hour before the service at 10 a.m. followed by the service at 11 a.m. and a luncheon at the Bemidji Town and Country Club.
https://www.ceasefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Wayne-Ted-Burger?obId=48311497#/obituaryInfo
Merle White (Jensen)
It's very difficult to talk solely about Ted without talking about Bud, because they were one. They were the classiest, fun-loving brothers in high school who had a dream, created it and then lived it. They turned what I called work into fun by experiencing their “work” and then relating this, plus a true knowledge of their products, into a very successful business. People wanted to buy from them because they were the Burger brothers, AND it was just so cool that they were identical twins. I distinctly remember once getting on a plane with them and I turned right and without making it a big deal they turned left. I asked them where they were going and they said to Remington (?) headquarters because they were their biggest dealer of the year and were going to get their awards. After years of success they sold their business and continued to live their dream, but not for long enough. It happens so very often that when a couple is married for a long time, and one passes, then the other is soon to follow. So like Hosie said to me, Ted is now with is with Kathy (Friedheim). We will all really miss you Ted and my deepest sympathies to you Bud and Jan. Doug Jensen
Charlie Blekre
I met the Burger brothers in 4th grade and became friends throughout the years. The last time that we saw each other regularly was at St. Cloud State. They were corvette lovers and if I wanted to hitch a ride home with them Buddy had to sit on the center console to make room for me.. They were so identical that the only way I could tell them apart was Buddy had a dead front tooth which was quite noticable Fond memories. Charlie Blekre