Bergeson, Jeremiah Eli (1904-2001)

BERGESON, MICKELSON, OLSON, EIKE, MOE, RINEHART, ANDERSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/3/2022 at 16:13:33

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
Friday, December 14, 2001

J.E. "Jim" Bergeson, 97, Story City, died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 at Bethany Manor in Story City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Bethany Manor Chapel with Revs. Thomas Reuss and Sandy Anenson officiating. Burial will be in the Story City Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral Home in Webster City from 4-6 p.m. Sunday and Monday 9 a.m. to service time at the chapel.

Jeremiah Eli Bergeson, son of Benjamin and Carrie Mickelson Bergeson was born on Dec. 2, 1904 at Williams. Jim was the youngest of 11 children whose father died in May of 1904. Shortly after Jim's birth, the family moved to a farm near Williams and later to a farm northeast of Randall, where he attended rural schools. At the outbreak of WWI, the older brothers joined the Army, leaving Jim and older brother Ben to work the farm. Having left school to work the farm, he later returned to school when the family moved to Story City in 1920, graduating from Story City High School in 1927. He married Margaret Angeline Olson at Roland on Nov. 2, 1930. To this union, three children were born, Marilyn, Charlene and James. Jim was involved in several local businesses, working at the munitions factory in Ankeny during World War II. In 1950, he built and operated Jim's Standard service station which he ran until 1970. He semi-retired after selling the business, working part time at Story City Memorial Hospital and the Story City park department. He was the first club house manager for Riverbend Golf Course. Jim's wife Margaret died Oct. 10, 1960. He married Antoinette Eike Sept 22, 1963 and she preceded him in death on Sept. 2, 1992. Jim has resided at Bethany Manor in Story City since September of 1993.

He is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Moe of Mishawaka, Ind., and Charlene Rinehart of Peachtree City, Ga., son and daughter-in-law, James A. and Patricia Bergeson of Webster City; sister-in-law, Esther Olson Anderson of Radcliffe; 8 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 5 step-great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by his sons-in-law, William Moe and Verle Rinehart; daughter-in-law Marilyn Bergeson; his parents; 6 brothers and 4 sisters.

Memorials may be given to St. Petri Lutheran Church or Bethany Manor.