Thomas Berge

Click this link to view the funeral service: https://youtu.be/Z-jteN0PAJ0

Thomas T. Berge, 84, died on May 4, 2021. He was born July 26, 1936 to Russell L. and Florance (Davidson) Berge. He attended Belmont Elementary School, South Junior High graduating from Central High School in 1954. After high school he enrolled at the University of North Dakota from which he graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Thomas then joined the Navy and went to Officer Training School. After which he was assigned to the Civil Engineering Department at the Philadelphia Naval Yard as an Ensign.

On December 22, 1960, Thomas married Lorna Gustafson in Grand Forks. They lived for two years in Almonesson, New Jersey across the river from the Philadelphia Naval Yard. In 1962, they returned to Grand Forks where Thomas was involved with the Berge family businesses, especially Northern Equipment and Supply until 1985. He worked for Agsco as a design engineer for several years. Eventually Thomas was employed as a civil engineer at the Grand Forks Air Force Base until 1997 when he retired.

Thomas enjoyed fishing, hunting and wood working. He had a pilot’s license, was a ham radio operator and a member of the Grand Forks Ham Radio Club as well as the Grand Forks Builders and Traders. His special interest was the Berge family cabin, built by his father in 1950 by the state park on Lake Bemidji.

Thomas is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lorna; children Gayle (Brad) Aafedt, Erin (David) Erickson and Scott (Wendy) Berge; grandchildren, Kirsten Aafedt, Brian Aafedt, Samantha (Pender) Conley, Hannah Pender, Andrew Erickson, Valerie Erickson, Clark Erickson, Alexia Berge, Thomas D. Berge, Brenna Berge and three great-grandchildren, Audrey, Reid and Raelynn Conley.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Douglas and son Russell B. Berge.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on  Saturday May 8, 2021 with his son-in-law, David Erickson officiating. The celebration of Thomas’s life will be held at the Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 S. 42^nd St., Grand Forks.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Memorial Park North Cemetery in Grand Forks.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Aafedt Family Engineering Scholarship at UND or the Shriners Children’s Hospital.