Salmer "Sonny" Bergeson

Salmer “Sonny” Bergeson, age 85, of rural Racine, MN passed away on Thursday( December 2, 2021) of natural causes at the Stewartville Care Center. 

Salmer Andrew Bergeson was born May 12, 1936 in rural Spring Valley, MN to Selmar and Francis (Jahns) Bergeson.  He grew up on the family farm and attended country school with his siblings. In 1958 he enlisted into the U.S.  Army and completed basics in Colorado. Selmar returned home and married his fiance’,  Carol Gehrking, on December 27 at St. John’s Church in Wykoff, MN.  He was then deployed to White Sands Missile Range in Las Cruces, NM and he and Carol lived there for the next 3 years.   Upon his discharge, they returned home to the Spring Valley and Rochester areas, eventually settling in rural Racine where they built their home, raised their family and have continued to make their home. Sonny worked on his farm and drove truck full time for Marigold/Kemps, Molde Trucking, and Lawrence Trucking eventually retiring in 1998.  Carol was a longtime office manager for Don Shreve Ford/ Lincoln, Adamson Motors and Universal Ford in Rochester until her retirement in 2008.

Sonny shared his love of horses with his daughter Dawn and his passion for fixing cars with his son Lonnie. In his later years you could find him tinkering around the garage or machine shed, watching old westerns on tv, or just sitting and snuggling with his dogs.  Going to lunch with friends and family was always in the books for him.  He loved a good meal and a road trip.  Sonny enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they came to visit.

Sonny is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carol;  daughter - Dawn (Keith) Robinson of Chatfield and son – Lonnie Bergeson(Kelli Johnston) of Stewartville: 4  grandchildren - Kristin Robinson of Rochester, MN, Tim Bergeson of Motley, MN, Ellie (Kyle) Blahnik of Red Wing, MN, Lindsay Bergeson(Phillip Flesch) of Bloomington, MN;  9  great-grandchildren - Eddie, Lily, Alejandro, Kano, Sawyer, Owen, Klara, Leo, and Wrenlie;  2  brothers – Curt Bergeson(Thelma Volkart) and Steve(Sue) Bergeson both of Rochester.  He was preceded in death by granddaughter - Holly Robinson and grandson - Greg Robinson,  his parents, step-father Sam Nelson and his sister Delores Batt.

A private family memorial service will take place at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Justin Kumfer officiating.  A private burial will be scheduled at a later date. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Sonny are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

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