Bergerson, Selmer (1934-2008)

BERGERSON, HOLVERSON, YATES

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/17/2008 at 17:21:54

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, July 17, 2008

Selmer Bergerson, 74, of Knoxville, Tenn., and formerly of Le Mars, died Friday, July 11, 2008 at his home following a brief illness.

Selmer Bergerson was born in Soldier, Iowa on June 19, 1934, the son of Brady and Magna (Holverson) Bergerson. He was raised in Soldier and graduated from Soldier High School. He enlisted in the United States Army on Jan. 14, 1955. He earned his honorable discharge on Jan. 13, 1958, having attained the rank of Specialist Third Class.

Selmer was married to Darlene Yates on Aug. 7, 1957, at St. John's American Lutheran Church in Le Mars.

He proudly served as superintendent of parks and golf course in Le Mars for more than 15 years. Selmer loved the outdoors and also worked at a golf course in San Mateo, Calif., and spent several years at the Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.

He and Darlene moved to Columbia, Mo., in 1983 to be near their children. He serviced the grounds at Columbia Regional Hospital, in Columbia, Mo., where a doctor recently described him as a sculptor of the grounds. They later moved to Knoxville in 2006 to be closer to family.

Selmer was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Knoxville and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church while living in Le Mars. He was also member of the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 for 34 years. His name is proudly displayed on the Honor Roll Wall in Soldier.

Selmer's love for his family and friends was always present and they were blessed to have had him in their lives. He was a devoted husband and father. He did everything for his family and not a day passed that they did not know how much he loved them, nor how he was loved by them and others. His great sense of humor and soft heart shined through until the end.

He is survived by his loving wife, Darlene of Knoxville, Tenn.; his children: Keith Bergerson, Tammy Knight and her husband Ken Knight, and Lisa DeMoss and close family friend Nick McBride, all of Knoxville, Tenn.; grandchildren: Casondra Knight, Austin Altena, Jessica and Erica Bergerson; sisters-in-law, Arlene Klemme of Akron, Eilene Rolling and her husband, Jerry Rolling of Le Mars; brothers-in-law Dick Williams of Seney, Steve Soukup of Sioux City, and Roger Scoles of Bella Vista, Ark.; and several nieces and nephews.

Selmer was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Lafe and Ruldolph Bergerson; sisters Tracey Wimer, Peggy Soukup and Ruth Scoles; sisters-in-law Charlene Williams and Marlene Henry; and nephew Brian Rolling.

Memorial services will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at the Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home of Le Mars. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Military honors will be provided by Wasmer Post #241 of the American Legion. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home of Le Mars. The family will be present from 5 to 7p.m. and there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the funeral home prior to the memorial service on Saturday.