Erling M. Berger

Erling M. Berger, age 94, of Alexandria, died on Monday, June 10, 2024, at his home under the care of hospice.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at Living Word Lutheran Church in Alexandria with Rev. Jesse Carson officiating. Music is provided by pianist, Sandi Domine. Full military honors will be accorded by the Minnesota Honor Guard, American Legion Post #87, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #936, Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #235, and the Marine Corps League Detachment #1409. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, Alexandria. 

The visitation will take place from 5-7 p.m., Monday, June 17, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Erling was born on February 16, 1930, to Nels and Edna (Stenson) Berger in Lidgerwood, North Dakota. He was baptized in the spring of 1930 and confirmed in the Lutheran Christian faith. Tragically, his mother died when Erling was four years old. His father then married Ioline Odland, who lovingly raised Erling.

The family remained in Lidgerwood until Erling was six years old, when their farmhome burned down. They relocated to Minneapolis, where Erling attended school. During the summers, he returned to North Dakota to work on his grandparents’ farm. In his junior year of high school, Erling moved to Veblen, South Dakota, where he graduated in 1948 and met his future bride, Lillian Storbakken.

After graduation, Erling worked briefly in Veblen and later in a paper factory in Washington state. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and married Lillian on December 15, 1951, in Veblen. Erling served in Korea from 1951 to 1953, earning the Korean Service Medal, two bronze service stars, and the United Nations Service Medal. Following his honorable discharge, the couple lived in Veblen before moving to Roseburg, Oregon, where Erling worked at a grocery store.

The family then moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where Erling attended mechanic school. In 1954, they settled in Alexandria, where Erling worked as a mechanic for Fluegal Motors for five years. In 1959, he entered a partnership operating Berger-Mullen Standard and later, in 1970, he founded Berger Standard, which he ran for 14 years. After selling the business he sold real estate and did volunteer work for the American Cancer Society.

Lillian passed away in 2013. Erling later married Theresa Winter in 2014, and together made their home in Alexandria at the Senator. A lifelong Christian, he served the Lord though hard work, mechanical ability and leadership. 

Erling was an avid fisherman, often joking that fishing was his second career. Erling also enjoyed playing Whist and watching the Minnesota Vikings. He especially loved spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna; infant sister, Ruth; father, Nels; step-mother, Ioline; first wife, Lillian; brother, Harris; and step-daughter, Annette Revering.

Erling is survived by his wife of nine years, Terry; son, Steven (Valerie) Berger of Millersville, Maryland; daughter, Susan (David) Nelson of Alexandria; step-son, Jim (Stephanie) Revering of Alexandria; brother, Neuman (Dianna) Berger of Minneapolis; two sisters, LaVonne (Ed) Bubak of Fountain Hills, Arizona and Ivadell (Virgil-deceased) Woytassek of Lidgerwood, North Dakota; seven grandchildren, Maria (Eric) Haug, Juliana (Jonathan) Mann, Marc (Ashely) Nelson, Amanda Feist, Sarah (Tony) Erickson, Stephanie (Sara Plunkett) Berger, and Amy (Jake) Tornquist; 15 great-grandchildren, Abigail, Makiah, Anika, Serena, Avery, Asia, Huck, Noah, Callum, Hallie, Elise, Jupiter, Epiphany, Alistair, and Calliope; two step-grandchildren, Gretchen and Paige Revering; along with many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Marc Nelson, Jim Revering, Eric Haug, Tony Erickson, Jake Tornquist, and Bob Nelson.

Memorials in Erling’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Living Word Lutheran Church.