Roy Van Berkom

MINOT - Roy P. Van Berkom, 89, Minot, formerly of Powers Lake, died April 8, 2010, at ManorCare, Minot. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 12, at Bethel Baptist Church, Powers Lake, with the Revs. Brian Skar and Rob Nelson officiating. Burial will follow the service in Bethel Baptist Cemetery, rural Powers Lake, with military funeral honors.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, followed by a public prayer service at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Arie Bertsch officiating. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Roy Paul Van Berkom was born Aug. 1, 1920, in Powers Lake, to Mike and Emma (Wolgast) Van Berkom.

Roy was a WWII veteran having served in the 47th medical battalion in the First Armored Division of the U.S. Army. During his service from 1940 to 1945, he served in Ireland, England, North Africa and Italy, including Anzio Beach. He received a Purple Heart in recognition of him being wounded in Rome.

He married Gloria Froseth and they had two children, Steven and Sandra. He later married Mary Kay Morgan and they had three sons, Jeff, Michael and Mark. He married Florence Enget in Powers Lake in 1967. Florence died in December 1975. He married Corinne Belcher in Minot in 1978. Corinne died in June 2009.

Roy was an avid fisherman who enjoyed going out early to catch walleyes. He also enjoyed trap shooting at the Minot Gun Club, reloading shells and hunting upland and big game in North Dakota.

He worked as a successful Watkins salesman in North Dakota for several years and enjoyed and valued his many loyal customers right to the end.

Roy is survived by his children, Steven M. (Debbie) Van Berkom, Mandan; Sandra (Robert) Nelson, Wenatchee, Wash.; Michael (Gina) Van Berkom, Silverdale, Wash.; and Jeff (Tona) Van Berkom, Burnsville, Minn.; his stepchildren, Kim (Noel) Hanenberg, Drake, and Steven (Mona Ray) Belcher, Minot; his grandchildren, Jason (Tara) Van Berkom, Woodbury, Minn., Charity Nelson, Monroe, Wwash., Micah Nelson, Wenatchee, Katherine (Rueben) Gardner, Poulsbo, Wash., Michael Van Berkom (fiancee Anita), Gerheart, Ore., Billy Van Berkom, Silverdale, Cassandra Felber, Towner, Christine (Aaron) Clott, Minot, Katrina Belcher, Minot, Scott Van Berkom, Burnsville, Minn., Nicole Van Berkom, Burnsville, and Serina Armstrong, Vadnais, Minn.; five great-grandchildren; his sisters, Pearl (Will) Simlik, Vista, Calif., and Ione Johnson, Mesa, Ariz.; his sister-in-law, Loris Van Berkom, Williston; his brother-in-law, Danny McLachlan, Wolf Point, Mont.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Emma; his wives, Florence and Corinne; his sister, Alice McLachlan; his brother, Robert Van Berkom; and his son, Mark Van Berkom.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (http://www.thompsonlarson.com/">www.thompsonlarson.com).