Ralph F. Bergeland
February 27, 1923 - November 03, 2017
Obituary
BROOKLYN- Ralph F. Bergeland, age 94, passed away on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. He was born on Feb. 27, 1923, to Martin and Amanda (Anderson) Bergeland, in a rural farmhouse in Hamlin Township, Dawson Minn. Ralph was their third eldest child, in the family of six boys, and two girls. He attended and graduated from Hamlin Consolidated Elementary Schools. Ralph rode to school on horse drawn heated buses until 1935, never needing to walk to school. Later, motorized buses made getting to school new and exciting for young Ralph. Ralph served in the Army during WWII, as part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign. After his service, he received a B.A. in Business Administration from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, 1949. Ralph married Anita Smith, on Oct. 2, 1954. The two settled in Brooklyn, Wis. He spent the next 35 years in the farm equipment industry working with dealers as a territory manager in the Midwest. First with IHC then with Allied (Oliver, Moline, New Idea) and retired in 1984. In retirement he began working part time at Brinks Armored Car Services from 1984 - present (33 years). He has always farmed part time raising cattle, horses and chickens with a special interest in horses. Ralph had great respect for his community. He was involved and very active in his church, served as President on the Oregon School Board and a member of the Oregon/Brooklyn VFW. Ralph is survived by his wife, Anita; children, Russell of Brooklyn, Tracy of New Glarus, Reid (Wendy) of Brooklyn, and Eliot (Michelle) of Brooklyn; granddaughters, Taylor, Katie, Grace, Ava and Claire; siblings, Orton of Calif., Luther of Col., Helen of Calif., James of Minn., and Martin (Carol) of SD; sister-in-law, Helen of Minn; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harlowe of Minn.; and sister Mavis of Minn.; sisters-in-law, Barbara, Jeanette and Lois; brother-in-law, Ray. Funeral services will be held at ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 625 East Netherwood, Oregon, at 1 p.m., on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, with Rev. Paul Markquart presiding. Burial will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Brooklyn. Visitation will be held at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday. The family wishes to thank the staff of Agrace HospiceCare for all of their wonderful care. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Oregon
Funeral & Cremation Care
1150 Park St., Oregon
608-835-3515
Events
Visitation
Tue Nov 7, 2017 @ 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
St. John's Lutheran Church (Oregon) • 625 E. Netherwood St., Oregon, WI 53575
Service
Tue Nov 7, 2017 @ 1:00 PM CDT
St. John's Lutheran Church (Oregon) • 625 E. Netherwood St., Oregon, WI 53575
Photos
Memories
KC
Kathy Calhoun Casad
Other •
My deepest sympathies to the the Bergeland family.
KD
Kari Deering
Other •
My very favorite and fondest memory, one we often chuckled about together, was made in October of 1997. I took our daughter Betsy, our son Matt and Betsy's friend Mallory to Brooklyn during our school fall break. Uncle Ralph was always inviting us to come visit the Wisconsin farm. We spent time visiting and then headed out with Russell to the barn to see the horses. Uncle Ralph wanted us to take a buggy ride with him, so Russell hitched the horses to what I think was Uncle Ralph's oldest buggy. We headed down the road a mile or so...all 4 of us enjoying our first time in a real buggy! Rather than go to the next driveway to turn around, Uncle Ralph decided to turn the buggy around in the road. This buggy was so old that it did not have the kind of guard that prevents the buggy from turning too tight. Well, the turn was too tight and the buggy, as if in slow motion, tipped over. I distinctly remember us slowly jumping out, one at a time, without landing on each other. Thank goodness, the horse stood there calmly as all of this happened. Uncle Ralph was so apologetic and concerned about our fall. The kids and I were laughing so hard, as it was such an unusual and funny experience! We lifted the buggy upright, climbed back in,proceeded into a field to make a wider turn-around and then headed back to the farm. I am pretty sure that we were a part of one of Uncle Ralph's most memorable buggy rides! This story has been told by me, our kids and Mallory over and over again, with a lot of chuckles accompanying it!
Uncle Ralph was a good, kind man, and he will be missed by the generations of Bergelands that were blessed to know him!
JZ
Jill zimdars
Other •
I was working at The Bank of Oregon in the early 80's and remember Ralph coming to do his banking. He was polite and kind. A handsome man. To this day I have thought of him and feel blessed to have been a minute part of his life
MH
Mary Heuer
Other •
Uncle Ralph will be deeply missed; he was such a caring and thoughtful man.
BB
Brad Bergeland
Other •
Anita,
This is to express our deepest sympathies for the passing of Uncle Ralph. We wish you and your entire family peace and solace during this time. One memory that stands out for me is when I sat next to Uncle Ralph at one point during the wine country bus tour in Napa several years ago. He shared a story with me about his time in WWII. I will always remember that. He personified the Greatest Generation.
Love, Brad and Melanie Bergeland
MF
Marnette Voeltz - Badger Honor Flight
Other •
The volunteers, flight team and board of Badger Honor Flight mourn the loss of their hero, Ralph Bergeland. We are thankful for his military service and proud to have served him on his trip to Washington, D.C. on November 12, 2011.