William "Bill" David Bergstrom

William (Bill) David Bergstrom, age 72, went on to his heavenly reward Monday, June 20. Surrounded by his family, he passed peacefully at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN. Funeral Services for Bill will be held on Monday, June 27, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Evangelical Free Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Bruce Dick will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Memorials may be directed to Devils Lake School Foundation, 1601 College Drive North, Devils Lake, ND 58301 Bill was brought into the world by Dr. Glenn Toomey at General Hospital in Devils Lake, ND on March 22, 1933. The proud parents were Arthur & Marjorie Renard Bergstrom. He was educated in the Devils Lake Public Schools. He was very active in Scouting and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He also studied piano with his future mother- in- law, Alma Studness. He continued on to study at Macalester College, St. Paul MN where he was the swimming team. Bill later transferred to the University of Colorado at Boulder where he graduated with a degree in business administration. While serving in the U. S. Army (1955-57) he was in charge of Finance for U. S. Army (England) – London, England. After honorable discharge, he did graduate work in Economics at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He then returned home to Devils Lake to work in the family business, Lake Chevrolet, which was founded by his father in 1923. Bill and Anne-Marit (Studness) were united in marriage on December 16, 1961 in Devils Lake. Two children were born to this marriage: Renard William and Mira Leigh. Family was always first and foremost in his heart and mind. His joy increased when Renard married Candace Mord, and when Mira married Michael Norcross. In the last 15 years, he thoroughly enjoyed his five grandchildren. It was to them that he affectionately answered to the name “Popsel”. Bill believed so strongly in the Lake Region, and took every opportunity to lend his support and volunteer efforts to see it grow. He served on the board of Trustees of Lake Region Community College and was president of the College Corporation Board during the building of the present facility. He served on the Devils Lake Planning Commission (President 1978-80) and was founding member of the Central Business District Committee (group responsible for Senior Citizens Center, Child Care Center and renovation of the Great Northern Hotel). He received the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award and is a past president of Rotary. In recent years, he devoted much time to North Dakota Chautauqua, serving the organization in many capacities since it was reestablished in 1976. Ten years ago, he and his wife were co-founders of the Lake Region Unsung Hero program (an initiative of Ramsey Bank and Lake Chevrolet-Toyota-Buick). Bill could always see the hero in every heart. During his business career, he renamed the company Bergstrom Automotive Management and expanded to include Toyota, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury Franchises. In addition, the business grew to include Marketplace Motors, Devils Lake ND, Hilltop Auto Center in St. Croix Falls, WI and Jamestown Auto Center, Jamestown. His son Renard Bergstrom is now the dealer in charge of these businesses. Bergstrom received numerous professional and civic awards, including the Time Magazine Quality Dealer award in 1995 for his outstanding performance as an automobile dealer and for being a valued citizen of his community. He served as President of the North Dakota Auto Dealers Association in 1991-92. Throughout his innovative career he enjoyed breaking new ground. Just seven years ago, along with his daughter, Mira, and her husband Michael Norcross he built the Holiday Inn Express and Embers Family Restaurant in St. Croix Falls, WI. Despite his very active business career, this beloved husband, dad, and grandpa treasured his time with family most. He enjoyed traveling with Anne-Marit and tending to his garden. He always offered a hand to hold, an ear to listen, or a lap to sit on. Bill was a source of strength for his entire family. We will all miss him dearly. Those wishing to send a memorial should direct them to the Devils Lake Public Schools Foundation. He was preceded in death by is parents. Left to grieve are his wife of 43 years, his children Renard (Candace) and Mira (Michael), Grandchildren William and Benjamin Bergstrom and Sydney, Aria & Strom Norcross, Brothers Arthur Eugene (Jeanne) and John (Ornetta) and nieces and nephews. Friends may sign the on-line register book at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com