Orlan Bergerson

Orlan "Berge" Bergerson, age 89, of Waseca, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at the Lake Shore Inn Nursing Home of Waseca.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca, with Pastor Paige Whitney officiating. Private family interment will be held at the Freeborn Cemetery in Freeborn.

Visitation will be held at the McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Waseca on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday morning. There will be no reviewal at the church on Saturday morning.

In lieu of flowers, Berge's family requests memorials be directed to the Grace Lutheran Church, Waseca Area Senior Center, Hospice of the Valley, Mankato, or to the donor's choice in his memory.

Orlan Buell, the son of Alfred and Esther (Anderson) Bergerson, was born on June 21, 1924 near Kiester, Minnesota. He attended school in Kiester and graduated with the class of 1942. Following high school, Berge was drafted into the United States Army during WWII in 1944 and was station in Japan and the Philippines. He later received an honorable discharge. On July 7, 1948, Berge was united in marriage to Donna Dezell at her family farm in rural Freeborn. Berge continued his education all throughout life. He enjoyed the opportunity to constantly learn new tricks of the trade. He and Donna lived in Hartland where Donna taught and Berge studied T.V. electronics. They later moved to Waseca in 1960 and opened Bergerson T.V. Sales and Service. He enjoyed the many friendships he made over the years and of course the opportunity to fix things for people. He later sold the business and worked for Brown Electric for a few years before joining the E.F. Johnson & Co. staff where he eventually retired in 1994.

Outside of working and studying, Berge loved woodworking. He was handy man in many ways and was always willing to help design and build something. Berge and Donna were very active in Lutheran Brotherhood for many years. At one point, he made signs for the abandoned cemeteries throughout Waseca County. He was also a major part of the design and construction of the Waseca Area Senior Center and many restoration projects at Farmamerica in Waseca. Berge was also a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca where he served on many boards and sang in the choir with Donna. He was also a member of the V.F.W. Sweet Sommers Post 1642, American Legion Post 228, Waseca Lions Club, and Boy Scouts Troop 85, all of Waseca.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of Waseca; his children, Brian Bergerson of Waseca, Bruce (Ginny) Bergerson of rural Janesville, and Beth Abraham and Jon Wabner of Waseca; his six grandchildren, Will, Brad, Tom, Tim, Collin, and Dylan and two great grandchildren, Tristan and Reese; his siblings, Nylene Thompson of Owatonna and Marlin (Kay) Bergerson of Forest Lake; and by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Laverne Bergerson, and two infant siblings; and by his brother-in-law, Herman Thompson.