Gersey, Elizabeth Jayne "BJ" age 93, a resident of Richfield, MN for 60 years, was a native of Duluth, MN. She was the first woman to join the Navy as a WAVE from that city during WWII. In Sept. of 1942, she attended Naval Radio Training School at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She was stationed at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, FL, where she served 3 years as a Radioman and Air Traffic Controller, achieving the rank of First Class Petty Officer. In 1945, she married her husband of 55 years, Jon Gersey, also a First Class Petty Officer. They raised their family and spent their remaining years in Richfield, MN. In her business career, BJ was Administrative Assistant to the presidents of B. Dalton, Bookseller; Target Stores; and Dayton Hudson Corporation. After retirement in 1984, she chaired Target's retiree organization and served as secretary on the Executive Committee of the 10,000 Lakes Unit #37 of WAVES National, and remained very active in women veteran affairs. Preceded in death by her husband, Jon; parents, Frances and Frank Hughes; and sister, Marilyn Rousseau. Survived by son, Thomas (Vicki) Gersey; daughter, Leslie Bentley; sister, Janice (William) Drigans; grandchildren, TJ Gersey, Shea Savage and John Greven; great-grandchildren, Thomas and Austin Greven; and many loving nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 A.M. Monday with visitation one hour prior at Saint Richard's Catholic Church, 7540 Penn Ave. S, Richfield. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Morris Nilsen Chapel 612-869-3226 morrisnilsen.com