Thomas Elias Bergstrom

1939 - 2021

Thomas Elias Bergstrom

Thomas Elias Bergstrom, father, grandfather and friend, died in his sleep on January 17, 2021 from heart complications in Reno, Nevada. He was 81 years old. Soft-spoken and good natured, Tom started his life in Libby, Montana where he was born on December 10th, 1939 to Bertha and Elias Bergstrom. He grew up in Aloha, Oregon with his mother and three sisters and later met Beth Carlson while driving a group of young adults from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to their church activities. He subsequently joined the same church and married Beth in the Idaho Falls Temple.

In Corvallis, OR he started a family with the birth of Heather and later moved to Twin Falls, ID where his second daughter Anne was born. After Beth's early death he took his young family to Washington. In 1971 he bought a small farm in Doty, WA where he raised his daughters for 13 years. When his girls left the farm for college, he sold it and indulged in a dream he had since his youth by spending two years exploring the country.

After he had traveled to all the contiguous 48 states, he settled in Reno and worked until retirement. He then spent his time panning for gold, tinkering on his inventions and participating in his Church callings.

Tom was kind, thoughtful and put a great deal of effort into being a good Dad to his daughters. He hid their favorite candy bars in their shoes or coat pockets to be found when they left for school. He built them houses of hay in the barn in which to play. He made sure they always had a couple of dogs to keep them safe. On Easter he would sprinkle nickels and dimes over their beds and floor so that they would wake up to the glittering sight. He hid Easter candy so well that some pieces weren't found for months. He was endlessly patient as his girls 'helped' him with the farm chores and they never missed a Disney movie. Fights between his daughters were soothed by one big bowl of ice cream and three spoons, calming them while they ate together. Every evening ended with him listening to his young daughters read from the scriptures and kneeling with them in prayer before tucking them into bed with a kiss goodnight.

He taught morals and ethics by example and selflessly helped both friends and strangers. He was honest and hard working. He loved his Heavenly Father, his family and his country.

We will miss his easy-going nature and his infectious laughter.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Bertha and Elias Bergstrom; his sisters Jean Egan, Bernadine Nelson and Mary Zollinger. He is survived by his daughters Heather (David) Cottrell of Alpine, Utah and Anne Bergstrom of Orem, Utah; and his grandchildren Chanae (Tyler) Pratt, Cade (Lauren) Cottrell, Adalyn Cottrell, Nathan Cottrell and Ethan Cottrell.

A private memorial service will be held on April 3rd in Rupert, Idaho where his ashes will be interred within Beth's grave.