Baker City, Oregon
George Alvin Bergeson, 82, a life-long Baker City resident died Oct. 30, 2001, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande.
Visitations will from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
His funeral will at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. The Rev. Susan Barnes of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Ritualistic rites will be accorded by the Baker Elks Lodge, No. 338. Military rites will be accorded by Baker City AMVETS, Post No. 1874.
Mr. Bergeson was born at Hoquiam, Wash., on Feb. 9, 1919, to Victor and Vera McGarey Bergeson. He was the oldest of three children. He moved with his family to the Baker Valley in 1921. His sisters Rose Anna, who survives him and remained close, and Alice May, who preceded him in death, were born here.
He grew up and attended school in Baker City, graduating from Baker High School in 1937. After high school, Mr. Bergeson joined the U.S. Navy and served his country as part of this nations greatest generation.
Prior to World War II, he served in the Atlantic Fleet, and in the Pacific Fleet through World War II. He achieved the rank of Seaman First Class. During the war he served on the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that survived several kamikaze hits.
After the war, Mr. Bergeson returned home to Baker City and joined the Oregon State Police department, serving as a state patrolman for more than 10 years. During this time, he met Marie Worrell. They were married on June 8, 1947. They were happily married for 50 years until Maries death in April 1998.
The Bergesons had two sons: Garey George and Ted Craig. Both were born in Baker City and attended Baker schools through high school graduation. Both boys also are college graduates.
Mr. Bergeson’s memory and spirit live on through Garey, his wife Susan, and their two children, Hillary and Jeffrey who live at Ridgefield, Wash., and Ted, his wife Nancy, and their two children, Clair and Jacob, who live at Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Mr. Bergeson loved his grandchildren and entertained them with his gift of writing in calligraphy.
Mr. Bergeson was active in the Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon for many years. He also was a member of the Baker Elks Lodge and the Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed golf as a longtime member of the Baker City Golf Course.
Mr. Bergeson retired from Basche-Sage Hardware after 25 years of employment where he was a well-known member of the staff of this Eastern Oregon landmark.
Mr. Bergeson was blessed to have had two loves in his life. After Marie’s death, he renewed a special and close friendship with Leah McNeill-Van Pelt of Forest Grove, a sweetheart from nursing school with whom he had lost contact during the turbulent times of World War II.
Mr. Bergeson is loved and will be missed by his surviving sister, his two sons, their wives, his four grandchildren, and fiance.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charitable works of the Baker Elks Lodge, No. 338, through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, November 2, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor