Patricia Berger

Patricia Berger Memorial Services for Patricia Ann Berger, age 70, of Alexandria, were held on Thursday, September 15, 2011, from the Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Minnesota with Rev. John Martinson officiating. Music was provided by Sandy Buckner, Marcie Vickerman, and Jordan Arel. Patricia Ann Berger was born on May 4th, 1941 to Maurice and Hazel Hardy, on the family farmstead near Rosholt, South Dakota. She spent her childhood on this farm and had many happy times there. She attended gradeschool at the Roberts County Country School, with her siblings Janice and Jimmy. Patty then moved away from home to attend the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris, MN. She completed the last two years of high school at Rosholt High School, graduating in 1959. Patty was busy in the next few years, including a short time living in Minneapolis and visiting California. She had previously met her future husband, Verdell, at the Ag School in Morris, then met him again a few years later at a dance at the Ranch Dance Hall. Courtship ensued and then followed love, and she married Verdell Berger on September 9th, 1961. She became a proud mother of two children, with Dan born in 1962 and Kristi born in 1966. They moved from Wheaton to Breckenridge in 1968, then moved to Alexandria in 2004. She had a variety of employment over the years, to include a nurse's aide, grocery produce clerk, and concluded her working career as a cook for students attending the North Dakota State College of Science. The job that was her pride and joy, however, was being a homemaker, and focusing her efforts on being a wonderful wife and mother, and eventually grandma to her grandchildren, whose accomplishments she loved bragging about. Patty enjoyed going out dancing, walking daily, listening to country music and attending concerts, gardening and baking. She treated her family often to homemade buns, cookies, rusks, and "elephant tracks". She loved her pets. Over the years she especially loved Sundays spent visiting her parents on the beloved family farm. She had a passion for travel, and was able to visit New Mexico, Florida, Branson, Alaska, and spent winters in Arizona from 2005 to 2009. The highlight of her travel, however, was the 1 month trip touring the East Coast with her husband Verdell. This was his surprise to her when he retired in 2004, and was a treasured time. Patricia struggled with an atypical form of Alzheimer's Dementia in her last years, but always had her devoted husband, Verdell, by her side. Family remained important to her, and she treasured her children and grandchildren. Patty and Verdell's 50th anniversary was on September 9th, 2011. She gave up her struggle on September 10th, 2011, and is now unencumbered by her physical limitations that were so frustrating to her. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.