Union, Oregon
Arnold K. Bergstrom, 76, of Union, died March 4 of natural causes at his residence. A graveside service will be conducted at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande.
Mr. Bergstrom, known as Arnie, was born May 14, 1930, in Kensington, Minn. He was one of ten children born to Theodore Ewald and Edith Eleanora (Eriksson) Bergstrom, both of whom sailed to America from Sweden in the early 1900s. His father arrived in America first, his mother following in 1911 aboard the Lusitania.
He grew up in a frugal environment and often spoke of his mother making head cheese, using “everything but the squeal.”
He graduated from high school in Red Wing, Minn., and served in the Minnesota National Guard in 1949 and 1950.
In 1951 Arnie married Marvis Swanson in Minnesota. They in later years. He later moved to Oregon and married Carol Sheasly in Las Vegas, Nev. They lived in Portland and divorced after a few years. He was employed by Stevens-Tracy Inc. in Portland as an outside automotive parts salesman.
After a long courtship, Arnie married Marcia Bach in Stevenson, Wash., in 1977. Later that year they relocated to La Grande, where they owned La Grande Auto Supply and Grande-Union Auto Supply until the early 1980s. He then was employed as an outside salesman and counter man for Bailey Farm Equipment for some years, after which he went to work for NAPA Auto Parts as an outside salesman and counter man. He retired at the age of 71.
Arnie enjoyed fishing and hunting in his earlier years. He was a perfectionist at heart, whose hobbies included home improvement projects and woodworking. He always enjoyed visiting with friends and family. He could out-shop any woman, his wife, Marcia, said, coupons, rain checks and all, and she only needed to mention an item and it was immediately at hand.
Survivors include his wife, Marcia of Union; children and their spouses, Deborah Bergstrom and Kirby O’Malley of Zagarolo, Italy, and Rick and Ami Bergstrom and Gregory and Mary Bergstrom, all of San Diego, Calif.; a step-son, David Bach of Tualatin; a brother, Waldo Bergstrom of Melrose, Minn.; three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Planned Pethood Inc., P.O. Box 683, La Grande 97850.
The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending Mar. 10, 2007 Published: March 10, 2007