Helen Alice Berger

Helen Alice Berger,89, of Grand Forks, ND, died Sunday, October 25, 2009 in Valley Eldercare Center, Grand Forks, ND. Helen Alice Berger was born October 19, 1920 in Grand Forks, North Dakota the daughter of Ole and Mary (Grove) Berger. She grew up in Grand Forks and graduated from Central High School, Helen attended Business College. She worked as a stenographer for Colborn School Supply for 30 years and when the business relocated to Denver, she then worked for the government Foster Grandparents Program and later the Wakefield Hearing Center. Helen was a member of the American Business Women's Association and travelled to several conventions. She was a long time member of Sons of Norway and was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. She was an active member of Sharon Lutheran Church, having taught Sunday school, sung in the choir, belonged to the women's Dorcas group, and being an expert lefse maker for the fall bazaar. Family was very important to Helen. She was devoted to her mother and cared for her to the end. Helen has a keen interest in genealogy and developed an extensive family history and genealogical records. Helen was an avid traveller in the US, Canada, Norway and rest of Europe, but her favourite place was North Dakota with its "spacious skies and waves of golden grain." Helen also enjoyed photography, gardening, crafts, baking (especially Norwegian delicacies) and "just visiting". Left to mourn are her brother-in-law Errol Carruthers of Medicine Hat, Alberta, nieces Mary Helen Velaski of Hillsboro, North Dakota, and Janis Stertz of Kamloops, BC, 8 great nieces and nephews (Paul Velaski of Gilbert, Arizona, Pam Nikle of East Grand Forks, Penne Nikle of East Grand Forks, Todd Berger of Castleton, David Berger of Grand Forks, Nicole Giles of Ottawa, Ontario, Scott Evans of Pitt Meadows, BC, Laura Evans of Kamloops, BC) and 11 great-great nieces and nephews, and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents Ole and Mary Berger, twin brother Obert Berger, brother and sister-in-law Palmer and Edna Berger, sister and brother-in-law Adeline and Jack Stertz, sister Margaret Carruthers, nephew Palmer Berger II, nephew-in-law John Velaski, and great nephew Darren Evans. She will be forever in our hearts. Helen's family would like to extend a special "thank you" to the staff of Valley Eldercare for the excellent care she received.