Burnett Bergeson

Burnett Bergeson

March 25, 1915

February 2, 2011

Burnett J. Bergeson, former Minnesota State Representative, died Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at home in Reno, Nevada. He was 95. He is survived by his wife, Adeline, a daughter and three sons: David J. (Patricia), Wichita, KS; Diane (Michael) Torry, Reno, NV; Burnett Jay, Sparks, NV; Loren W. (Kristin), Boise, ID; seven grandchildren: Katharine Torry, Sparks, NV; Natalie Tegio (Russell), Reno, NV; Scott Bergeson (Stacy), Wichita, KS; Steven Bergeson, Madison, WI; Lukas Bergeson, Sparks, NV; Amanda and Valerie Bergeson, Boise, ID; four great grandchildren: Jack and Joe Bergeson, Wichita, KS; Torry and Michael Tegio, Reno, NV; a sister, Olive Burton; Fertile, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Roy, Melvin, and John; and his sisters Gertrude Purrier and Mildred Sargent. Burnett J. Bergeson was born on March 25, 1915, at Canby, Minnesota, to parents Lauritz and Lena Bergeson. In 1916 the family moved to Twin Valley, Minnesota, where his father had purchased a farm. Although his father died a few days after arriving in Twin Valley, his mother continued farming with her children. Burnett was baptized at Florida Lutheran Church near Canby and was confirmed in the Christian faith at Zion Lutheran Church, Twin Valley, where he later served as President of the Congregation and on the Board of Deacons. Burnett completed eighth grade at Home Lake School, near Twin Valley, in 1927. He was a charter member and Junior Leader of the 4-H Club movement in Norman County, a role he continued while attending the University of Minnesota, Northwest School of Agriculture, at Crookston, graduating in 1936. In 1938 he was appointed to work for the Farm Security Administration of the USDA, and worked in 12 counties in northern and southern Minnesota. In 1945 he purchased a farm near Twin Valley and in 1949 purchased an additional farm, engaging in grain farming and raising turkeys. For a number of years he was President of Norman County Farmers Union and also worked for the Minnesota Farmers Union. He was active in the DFL Party and in 1954 he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives where he served for eight years. In 1962 he received an appointment in the Federal Government in the Kennedy-Johnson Administration as District Supervisor for the Farm Program Division in the USDA, serving until 1969, when he returned to the farm. In 1942 he married Adeline Juntunen of Suomi, Minnesota, at Thief River Falls, Minnesota. In 1977 the Bergesons sold the farm, retired, and after a year in Nevada, moved to Hawley, Minnesota, where they lived until 1998, then moving again to Reno, Nevada. A memorial Service for Burnett will be held at 2 pm Saturday, February 19, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Reno, Nevada, and an inurnment service at a later date at Zion Cemetery in Twin Valley, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the University of Minnesota at Crookston Scholarship Fund, c/o: Development Office, 2900 University Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716.