Richard Clifford Berg

 

Obituary

Richard Clifford Berg passed away Saturday, November 02, 2024 at Fowler Health Care at age 87. “Dick” was born on June 13, 1937 on the farm in Starkweather, North Dakota to Peder Henrickson Berg and Kristina Danielsdaughter Fluge, both immigrants from Norway. The youngest of 9 children, Richard spent his youth working on the family farm, picking rocks from the land to allow tilling, running a threshing machine and tending farm animals. His stories of being chased by roosters and turkeys were famous among friends and family. From a young age, he and his sister drove a pony and cart to a one room schoolhouse in Sullivan Township.

At age 8, Richard’s parents and the younger children moved to Devils Lake, ND leaving the family farm to the two eldest brothers. He was confirmed at Saint Olaf’s Lutheran Church. He graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1956 where he loved playing football and playing clarinet in the band, although most free time was spent out on the farm helping his brothers. Following in his middle brothers’ footsteps, Richard attended the University of North Dakota earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1960. He hoped to be an Air Force Pilot and joined the Air Force ROTC and earned his private pilots license, although that dream was never realized as he was discharged due to a medical condition. He was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and maintained lifelong friendships with many of those fraternity brothers. He loved music and continued his interest in classical music and musical theater his entire life.

After graduation, Richard moved to Minneapolis, MN where he worked for the Northwestern National Life Insurance Company for several years in the loan and investment departments. In 1964, he was diagnosed and treated for Hodgkin's Disease. He considered the possibility that “life is short” and left Minneapolis, embarking on an 18 month, 45,000 mile tour of the United States. During this time, he chaperoned a Boy Scout group to the World's Fair in New York, and worked on the Presidential campaign for Barry Goldwater in Washington, DC. He held odd jobs including being a night bouncer at the Red Onion in Aspen (while being a “ski-bum” during the days), and a dishwasher in a restaurant in New York City. He traveled from Niagara Falls to Cape Cod, Key West to Arizona to Idaho, staying with friends along the way or sleeping in the back seat of his 1960 Valiant sedan. In the harvest seasons back home in North Dakota, Richard's mother would write him letters stating “it’s time to come to help” in her broken Norwegian / English handwriting. Richard cared deeply for his eight siblings as well as his many nephews and nieces and, to them, he was the cool Uncle Rich!

Richard ultimately returned to call Denver, Colorado home in 1966. In 1969, he and Mary Jean Dodero were married and had children Jennifer and Leif thereafter. He worked as a National Bank Examiner for seven years, and as a loan officer for Cherry Creek National Bank, Colfax National Bank and Commercial Bancorporation of Colorado. He incorporated GREB Financial Services and bought and rehabbed multiple Denver rental homes through 1978. In his role as a loan administrator, bank examiner, banker, and landlord, Richard developed several long term friendships which he valued throughout his life and career.

In January 1979, an opportunity arose in the community of Ordway in Crowley County, Colorado. Richard and MaryJean, and older brother Gordon purchased “Lindoe, Inc.”, the holding company that owned First National Bank of Ordway. The old Board of Directors were replaced by local community farmers and businessmen investors who became Dick’s most treasured friends. As the President of First National Bank of Ordway, he quickly began work on a new bank building which opened in 1981. After updating banking processes, he actively hired community members and mentored them in their banking roles. He spearheaded the creation of the Crowley County Community Foundation (1981), organized the campaign to build “The Big House on the Prairie”, aka the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (1987) and helped lead the efforts to gain the Crowley County Correctional Facility (1996), which both provided community jobs, tax income and economic viability for the community after the sale and loss of vital irrigation water rights in Crowley County. He also led efforts through the Community Foundation in purchasing water rights back for the benefit of farmers and municipalities in the county. In 1991, 1993 and 1995, he encouraged Lindoe to purchase First Industrial Bank of Rocky Ford as well as Gunnison Bank and Trust Company and its branch development, the Crested Butte Bank. He loved driving over Monarch Pass to Gunnison to mentor bank employees and guide the bank’s growth. In 1996, Dick helped facilitate a large donation from the Community Foundation to the Crowley County School District which paved the road for the construction of the Ward Middle School.

During the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Dick was elected to 3 consecutive terms on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka Kansas. He also served as a director of the Colorado Bankers Association and Independent Bankers of Colorado. He served on the boards of KTSC Public Television, Crowley County Nursing Center and the Arkansas Valley Fair Association. He was an avid supporter of 4H and FFA. He loved his ranch and Black Angus cattle, enjoyed singing in the Ordway United Methodist Church choir, volunteering as an Ordway Lions Club member, had various roles for high level Republican candidates and was the loudest Green Bay Packer fan in Southern Colorado.

In 1995, Dick connected with his daughter from a prior relationship, Frances, and was able to share his life in Crowley County when she visited. As one of his nieces said, “Uncle Richard was so supportive of his family and community and lived his best life in his own special way”. He was a “first friend” to new-comers to the community and was always quick to arrive when anyone asked for help. Many remember his dry sense of humor and his generosity. In the nomination for 1996 Citizen of the year for the Crowley County Chamber of Commerce, a peer stated “My relationship to the Nominee is through social and professional contact, but mainly I sit back and admire him as a “doer” who has helped Crowley County endure and look to the future with optimism. Dick Berg is a community and business leader of vision and accomplishment. His achievements and contributions to Crowley County are historic in their significance.”

In 2005 Dick suffered a serious stroke and worked tirelessly in rehabilitation. He returned to many of his previous interests including traveling the world, reading, writing “his story”, building railroad tie fences, making dead tree windbreaks, driving around Crowley County, visiting with friends and family, and most of all, supporting his 5 granddaughters (and many honorary grandkids) in all of their activities and successes. He was so many things to so many people near and far, each having their own detailed memories of their relationship with Dick. In late 2023 Dick suffered another medical setback and spent the last 12 months in rehabilitation and long term care.

Dick is survived by his children Frances Nkara; Jennifer (Terry Ramsey) and daughters Grace and Isabella; Leif (Sariah Baca Berg) and daughters Taylor (Hayden Campbell), Madison (Dawson Turrentine), and Ashlyn. Two of his 8 siblings also survive him, brothers Alton (Edell) and John (Pam), and brother in law Bobby Ness as well as many nephews and nieces.

There will be two memorial services for Dick, one in Ordway, Colorado, and one in Devils Lake, North Dakota where burial will take place. Viewing will be Monday, November 11, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at the River of Life Fellowship. A Celebration of Life will follow. Reception and meal following at The Big Blue.

A Celebration of Life service will be Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 1:30 PM at Gilbertson Funeral Home. Interment following at Devils Lake Cemetery. Reception and meal following TBD.

The family requests notes, letters, posts of great stories or memories with Richard, including a photo of you and he, if you have one.

In remembrance of Richard Berg, the family requests any memorial tributes be made in the form of a charitable donation to: Crowley County Community Foundation (a 501c3) 301 Main Street, Ordway, Colorado 81063 A fund has been formed to provide grants to 4H and FFA youth for project or educational needs

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.