Hope Berg

Hope Berg Born November 8, 1931 Died February 5, 2025 In the midst of the Great Depression, James and Esther Williams of Ferguson, MO acknowledged the need for some hope in the midst of trying times, and so gave the name of Hope Williams to their third child and first daughter born in November 1931. While times were hard, Hope was raised in a loving and faith-filled home, blessed with a very happy childhood, along with her three brothers, and her younger sister Judy. After graduating early - age 16 - from Ferguson High School, Hope worked for a year and raised enough money to head out-of-state to attend college, sight unseen, in Minnesota. She earned an AA degree in education at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, eventually teaching 43 students in three grades at Trinity Lutheran School in Belle Plaine, MN. While teaching at Pilgrim Lutheran in 1958, Hope met Arnold Berg of Barnesville, MN - a career engineer with Sperry-Univac/Unisys - on a blind date and they immediately hit it off. They soon were engaged and were married at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Minneapolis on June 21, 1958. Hope and Arnie initially lived in Highland Park St. Paul, but moved to the fledgling suburb of Bloomington a week after the birth of their first child, Karen, in June 1959. Two years later they welcomed their second daughter, Kristi, in September 1961. They spent their entire married life of 66+ years in their first, last, and only home on Goodrich Circle. When Karen and Kristi were in elementary school, Hope commuted to the University of Minnesota - in her VW Beetle and later her Ford Mustang - where she earned her BA in Education with Honors, becoming the first in her family to achieve a four-year college degree. Hope possessed a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and was a lifelong member of the the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. Hope and Arnie were very active at Mt. Hope Lutheran in Bloomington for over 65 years where they made and shared many lifelong friendships. Hope and Arnie were faithful attendees of the adult Bible study, and Hope also completed a 5-year Bible Study Fellowship program. She was active in LWML, taught confirmation, and served as a youth leader. Hope loved teaching children and became a beloved kindergarten teacher for 14 years at Mt. Hope-Redemption School. She was a voracious reader and was known to always be reading a book - usually recommended by her daughters, or granddaughters - pretty much every day of her life. Hope will be remembered for her love of family, friends, and a silly sense of humor she inherited from her dad. She earned the trust and friendship of people young and old, including even some of Karen and Kristi's friends. Hope had a love of beauty which evidenced itself in setting a beautiful table for holidays and family get-togethers, and in the way she decorated and kept their home. Hope also loved to hear stories about her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family across the USA and abroad. During their marriage Hope and Arnie enjoyed memorable trips to Norway, Iceland, Canada, California, Florida, and visiting relatives in Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. Hope is survived by her beloved husband Arnold Berg (b. 1927), her daughters Karen (Grant) Woldum, Tulsa OK, and Kristi (David) Kjergaard, Denver, CO, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents James and Esther Williams, brothers James (Jim), Eugene 'Hank', John 'Jack', sister Judith (Judy), and great-grandson James Woldum. Funeral service Saturday February 15, 11AM at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church, 3601 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington. No prior visitation. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials to Mt. Hope Lutheran Church. Washburn-McReavy Werness Brothers Chapel 952-884-8145 www.Washburn-McReavy.com For Funeral Service: OT: Job 19:25-27 (NIV) Psalm 23 (KJV) Epistle: 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV) Gospel: John 14:1-6 (NIV) Hymns: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (LSB #686 all four verses) "Of the Father's Love Begotten" (LSB #384 V.1 & V.5) (Music from Blue LW incl. Bass Clef if needed) "I know that My Redeemer Lives" (LSB #461 V.1, V.7 - V.8) "For All the Saints" (LSB # 677 V.1, V.5, V.7 - V.8) "Be thou faithful to death, and I will give thee the crown of life." Rev. 2:10b Hope's Confirmation Verse

Tributes

Hope Berg

November 8, 1931 - February 5, 2025

Tributes

Hope Berg

November 8, 1931 - February 5, 2025

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