FARGO (AP) - Dave Jurgens, sports editor and longtime journalist at The Forum, died Sunday at 62. Jurgens, who had worked at The Forum for 17 years in various positions, died at MeritCare Hospital, according to the hospital and the newspaper.

"He was a good journalist who had good ideas about stories and coverage, and he really worked well with other people," said Forum columnist and former managing editor Terry DeVine, who hired Jurgens as assistant news editor in 1988.

Jurgens had served as business editor, news editor and night news editor at the paper before becoming the sports editor in September, according to The Forum. He coordinated the paper's internship program for several years.

"I'm so sad," said editor Peggy Bellows. "Dave was a great old-style news guy - loud, funny, direct. He was kind and generous with what he had and what he knew. I'm going to miss Dave a great deal."

A native of Milbank, S.D., Jurgens had a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of South Dakota. After college, he served in the military - including a tour in Vietnam, worked for a South Dakota newspaper, and bought and ran a steakhouse in his hometown before joining The Forum.

Jurgens worked at the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, S.D., from 1969 to 1981 and from 1985 to 1988. There, he held various positions: reporter, sports writer, outdoors writer, assistant city editor, city editor, sports editor and assistant managing editor.

Jurgens lived near Downer, Minn., with his wife, Barbara. He also was survived by their three children: JoAnna Olson, of Minnesota Lake, Minn., Mitchell Jurgens of Sioux Falls and Joshua Jurgens of Sioux Falls.

Funeral arrangements were pending.