Helen Marian Ardell Anderson Berg

Helen Marian Ardell Anderson Berg

Helen Berg passed away at her home in Eureka on Sunday, January 18, 2009, due to pancreatic cancer.

Helen was born on January 27, 1922 in Shelby, Montana to Iver Anderson and Katherine Erikstad Anderson. In 1925 she moved with her parents and grandfather to Merced Falls, California. She attended school in Turlock, Merced Falls, and Merced, California, and Greybull, Wyoming. She graduated from Merced High School in 1941, as Class Valedictorian. The family moved to Eureka in 1943. She began working at the Eureka Western Auto Store, where she met James Berg, the love of her life. They were married on January 23, 1949. Together they raised their two daughters, Sharon and Bonnie, and were so proud of both of them.

Helen worked at Western Auto as a bookkeeper and at various Eureka businesses from 1943 until 1950. She then stayed home to raise her daughters and went back to work after they finished high school. She worked for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department in the Records and Payroll divisions. She made many close friends while working there and those friendships continued over the years.

Helen and Jim enjoyed traveling and exploring small towns and historic sites across the country. Helen’s great interest was genealogy and she compiled detailed records of their families. She loved researching the family history and said she always felt like a bit of a detective while uncovering the family records. She would get so excited when she made a new discovery. Her family records date back to 1500 and her record keeping was meticulous. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and continued to stay in contact with her cousins and other relatives in Norway. They regularly sent e-mails about family events and family history.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; their infant son, James; her sister, Myrtle Prugh, and her parents.

She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Cissna and her husband Tim of Arcata, and Bonnie Rahm and her husband Patrick of Medford, Oregon. She also is survived by her three grandchildren, Kevin Cissna of Davis, California, Daniel Rahm of Portland, Oregon, and Kirsten Rahm of Medford, Oregon. She was so proud of her grandchildren and loved them all very much. She is also survived by numerous cousins across the United States and in Norway.

She will be missed by her many friends and family. Her family appreciates the support of all of her friends and neighbors during this difficult time, especially her neighbor, Cynthia Causley, and Tim’s mother, Jeanne Cissna. We also want to thank Hospice for all of their help and kindness.

A public visitation will be held Thursday, January 22, 2009, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Cooper Mortuary, 509 J Street in Eureka. Funeral Services will be held at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2009, at Cooper Mortuary followed by graveside services at Ocean View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Hospice of Humboldt or the charity of your choice.

Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com, click on obituaries.