Lena Berg

Lena Evangeline (Spooner) Berg passed away April 3, 2006, at the Brendan House in Kalispell after her last battle with cancer.

Lena was born Aug. 15, 1913, in Noonan, N.D., the last of eight children of Joseph and Lena (Larsen) Spooner. She was raised on the family farm, south of Noonan, in Divide County, N.D.

She graduated as valedictorian from Noonan High School in 1931. That fall she moved to Minneapolis and attended a three-year course at St. Barnabas Hospital, again graduating as valedictorian. After graduation she worked as a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

Lena was united in marriage to Oscar Clifford Berg on June 23, 1935, in Minneapolis. They had a son, Robert, and a daughter, Carol.

They moved back to Noonan in 1945, where Oscar partnered in a lumber yard and Lena administered the hospital in Noonan. In 1949, they moved back to Minneapolis where Lena worked for the Public Health Department.

After their retirement, they moved to Stacy, Minn., where they enjoyed many years of togetherness running a Christmas tree farm. Oscar died in 1994, and Lena moved to Kalispell in 2001 with her daughter, Carol, and son-in-law, Maurice Nelson.

Lena was a very outgoing person who loved people. She made a difference with her life affecting all of us remaining behind. She was devoted to her church and her family. She loved gardening, sewing, traveling and all of the wonders of nature. She was a role model for all of us, with her truth and good old Norwegian honesty sprinkled with generosity and kindness.

Lena was preceded in death by her husband, parents and seven brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her son, Robert Berg and wife Delores, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; daughter Carol Nelson and husband Maurice, of Kalispell; grandchildren Jerome Berg and wife Maria, of Ogden, Utah, Michele Larsen, of Whitefish, Craig Berg and wife Courtney, of Littleton, Colo., David Berg, of Reno, Nev., and Timothy Lenz, of Minneapolis; four great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Lena will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 6 (today) at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with Pastor Larry Stappler officiating. Urn burial will be in Stacy, Minn., alongside her husband Oscar at a later date.

The family suggests memorial gifts be given to the Seminary Scholarship Fund, c/o Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 603 South Main, Kalispell MT 59901, or to the charity of the donor's choice.