Marie Bergan

marie bergan

Marie Margie Bergan was born in Kimball, MN on May 15, 1911 to the late Elizabeth and Henry Pankake and passed away peacefully December 1, 2014 surrounded by family. Marie leaves three children, Gary (Rose), Diane (Ron) Rustad, and Hannah Van Hook. One son, Richard, preceded her in death. Seven grandchildren: Richard Bergan Jr.; Mark (Linda), Sheila, and Tim (Lori) Rustad; Laura (Dean) Johnson, Jenna and Rich (Beth) Van Hook, and seven great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

She married George Bergan in 1939 and raised four children on their farm south of Hawley near the area known as “Bergan’s Corner”. A modest woman dedicated to her family, Marie was a voracious reader and lifelong learner. During regular public library bookmobile stops at the farm, Marie would check out books by the boxfuls and gleefully tell her family she’d “struck gold”. One of her goals in life was to read “all the books in the library”; a feat she may have accomplished had she not moved to a large city with a ten floor library! She was inquisitive and curious: always wanting to know how things worked and in her later years, expanded her reading topics to medicine, science, astronomy and even physics.

In addition, Marie was a woman of many interests and talents: needlework, cooking, baking, music, crosswords, and travel. She taught herself Spanish in her fifties and loved to travel to Mexico and Central America; often staying six months at a time to hone her Spanish skills and immerse herself in the culture.

Marie and George moved to Fargo in 1965; Gary and Rose continued with the family farm and Marie began her second career as a pastry chef. Her first “paid” employment at St. Luke’s Hospital (now Sanford) became a shared family experience as both daughters worked there. One of her specialties was pies and she would drive to family gatherings in what came to be known as the “pie mobile”. After George passed away in 1975, she remained in Fargo until 1979 when she went to San Antonio, TX “for the winter” but remained 22 years. She held several positions in San Antonio and found her niche making pastries for large hotels such as the Hyatt Regency and Four Seasons. She was beloved by employers and colleagues for her work ethic, loyalty, reliability, and sense of humor.

The family would to thank the staff of Rosewood on Broadway for their exceptional care and kindness during Marie’s residence and final days.

The family gratefully acknowledges your presence and many kind expressions of sympathy during this time of loss.

Please click below to view the video tribute:

https://thetributecenter.com/tributeplayer/default.aspx?webvideoID=17261

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  1. Fargo ND
    Diane – I am so sorry for your loss…When Alzheimer’s is involved, the grieving process is extended, and made even more difficult by the loss of the “person” you knew long before your Mother’s actual physical passing.

    My heart is with you…

    Virginia

  2. Hawley MN
    Dear Laura, Gary and Rose,
    Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time. She sounded like a wonderful person with lots of talents. Prayers to your family.

  3. Waldorf MarylandHannah,

    Mac and I are sorry for your loss. We can only imagine how difficult the passing of your precious mother is. Our heart goes out to you and your family. This is an incredible loss of a wonderful lady, and while time is a healer, we also know that hearing these words are of little consolation now. Please know that you have many friends and colleagues who love and care about you and your family. If Mac and I can help (in any way) we are only a phone call or e-mail away.

    Mac and Dee Dee


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