DONALD G. BERGENHEIER

DONALD G. BERGENHEIER Donald George Bergenheier was born on May 24, 1937 in Dickinson, North Dakota to George and Sophie (Haydu) Bergenheier. He grew up on a farm near Lemmon, South Dakota, attended a one room country school through 8th grade, and graduated from Lemmon High School. Don enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957 and spent the next 20 years, 6 months, and 16 days serving our country, retiring in 1978. His first duty station was Finley Air Force Station followed by tours of duty in British Columbia Canada, Massachusetts, Spain, Ontario Canada, Michigan, Arizona, Iceland, Wisconsin, Montana, Thailand, Philippines, and finally, once again, Finley, North Dakota. Following his retirement, Don had a successful second career as a carpenter. The carpenter work of “Dirty Bergie, Wood Butcher” was highly sought after and valued. Don also served as a councilman and mayor for the city of Finley, as a member and commander of Peterson - Olson American Legion Post #13, and as an athletic official. He refereed basketball and umpired baseball at many levels and in many places over the years from little league baseball to semi-pro basketball. On January 10, 1959 Donald married the lovely Linda Erickson. They were married for 57 years and had two children. Together they enjoyed many activities such as gardening, travelling, and praying the Rosary together daily. Don was also a lifelong Green Bay Packer fan and collector of Packer memorabilia. He loved to golf—especially with his son and grandsons, read, collect coins, and do woodworking projects for his family. Notably, Don fulfilled a life-long dream of skydiving to celebrate his 70th birthday! Donald is survived by his wife, Linda, of Finley, ND; children Nancy (Mark) Sartori of Hibbing, MN and Rick (Tess) Bergenheier of Sharon, ND; overachieving grandchildren James Sartori of Hibbing, MN, John (Maggie) Sartori of Minneapolis, MN, Benjamin (Theresa) Sartori of St. Michael, MN, Lindsay (Lou Filip) Bergenheier of Fargo, ND, Abigail Bergenheier of Valley City, ND, and Luke Bergenheier of Finley, ND; great grandchildren Grace, Ella, Kathleen, and Hannah Sartori, Anja Sartori, and Alma Filip; siblings Pauline (Gene) Svihovec of Lemmon, SD, Eleanor Tomac of Lemmon, SD, Lorraine (Lloyd) Tomac of Tucson, AZ, Vernon (Marie) Birgenhier of Lancaster, CA, and Josephine (David) Burdick of Ridgecrest, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Sophie Bergenheier, and brothers Harry Bergenheier and Joseph Bergenheier. Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 10:30 am in St. Olaf Catholic Church, Finley, ND. Visitation will be Tuesday July 26, 2016 from 5:00 till 7:00 pm in the Church and one hour before services in the Church. A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 in the Church. Interment will be in the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, Mandan, ND.