A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
Doris “Pat” Berge, 96, of Storm Lake died Dec. 17, 2024, at Richmont Terrace Assisted Living in Bellevue, Neb.
Funeral services will take place Saturday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established by the family to plant trees in Storm Lake Cemetery or purchase a bench to be placed in Seneca Park in Storm Lake. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Doris Arlene Nelson was born Jan. 26, 1928, the daughter of Carl and Nora (Anderson) Nelson. She was baptized and confirmed at the Lutheran church in Marathon. In 1946, Doris graduated from Garfield School in Webb. After high school, Doris would ride the bus from Sioux Rapids to Sioux City to attend the Methodist School of Nursing. Her friend, Esther Brock, was also going to school there. Doris enjoyed attending classes with Esther in the fall and working in the summer. She graduated with her RN degree in 1949.
After graduation, Doris went to the University of Minnesota to work for six months before moving to Spencer, to be near Bill. She worked in Spencer for six months, then moved to Storm Lake. On March 1, 1952, Doris was united in marriage to Bill Berge at the Marathon Lutheran Church. They bought a 21-foot trailer to live in until they built their home. Bill would walk to work while Doris drove. They moved into their new home with only the downstairs finished. After Bill and Doris began to have children, they finished the upstairs of their house. They then sold their trailer to Otto Furniture to buy furniture for their house. As her children grew older, Doris served as Girl Scouts leader and traveled to Europe and Mexico with the scouts. She was also a member of Buena Vista County Garden Club and Central Bank Emerald Club.
Doris worked as a nurse for over 50 years until she gave up her license at the age of 70 years old. She then worked in Central Supply until she was 75. In her free time, Doris enjoyed traveling, camping and walking all over Storm Lake and Okoboji. Doris also enjoyed putting together puzzles. She looked forward to playing Bingo and watching sports. Most recently, Doris was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, where she was a member of the sewing club. She was a talented seamstress and especially enjoyed making backpacks for children in need.
Doris is survived by her children: Janice (Lyle) Hague of Omaha, Neb.; Jane Kuchta of Brookings, S.D.; Jim (Cathy) Berge of LaCross, Wis.; siblings: Bob (Linda) Nelson of Marathon; Lois DeGonda of Chisago City, Minn.; grandchildren: Trevor (Heather) Hague of Ringgold, Ga.; Carol (Kevin) Brown of Elizabeth, Colo.; Kim (Steven) Springer of Union, Ky.; Kayla Berge of Washington; Eric Stone of Minneapolis, Minn.; Jenny (Dusty) LeBrun of Colman, S.D.; Alex (Anna) Kuchta of Morehead, Minn.; Haley (John) Paris of Tomah, Wis.; great-grandchildren: Alexandria and Eli Hague; Elle and Teddy Springer; Jack, Addy, Hunter, Levi, Cru, Oakley and Grayson LeBrun; Brynlee and Bodhi Brown; Jackson Kramer; Octavia Paris; extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Berge; parents, Carl and Nora Nelson; sister Betty Sharp; brother Charlie Nelson; and son-in-law Ron Stone.
