Donna Wilson Berg
Donna Wilson Berg was born on July 26, 1925, in Blue Springs, Nebraska, and died in Helena, Montana, of complications from pneumonia, on May 8, 2011, at the age of 85. Donna was a gracious lady who epitomized kindness, generosity, and concern for others. Her love for family reigned supreme.
Donna was born to John David Wilson and Cassie Eliza Emma Baker Wilson. She graduated from Blue Springs High School, earning a scholarship to the Chillicothe College of Business in Chillicothe, Missouri. Upon graduation, she was secretary to the hospital administrator in Clinton, Iowa. Moving back to Beatrice, Nebraska, she worked for the Dempster Windmill Company.
January 2, 1943, she was engaged to John N. Berg of Wymore, Nebraska. In February of 1943, John volunteered for the draft and was inducted into the Army, February 18, 1943.
Donna moved to Abilene, Texas, where John was stationed at Camp Barkley. They were married the day she arrived, April 20, 1943, at 8:00 pm in Chapel #8, with Chaplin Hawkins officiating. She worked at Camp Barkley while her husband was in the European Theater of Operations with the 12th Armored Division, 7th Army. Donna transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, to work as a secretary until her husband came home from the war in Europe December 12, 1945.
January 1, 1946, John and Donna moved to Brigham City, Utah, where John was hospitalized in the Bushnell Hospital. January 2, 1946, John was transferred to the Letterman General Hospital at Presidio in San Francisco, California. Donna continued working as a secretary until John was discharged from the hospital in late March. Donna and John returned home to Nebraska in the spring of 1946. On January 6, 1947, their first son, Robert John, was born.
They moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where Donna was the secretary to the Dean of the College of Business, University of Wyoming. Their second son, Kenneth Norman, was born on May 20, 1948. Moving to Bozeman, Montana, in December 8, 1948, Donna was secretary to the Dean of Civil Engineering at Montana State College. In September, 1949, they moved to Indianola, Nebraska, where she was employed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. In 1952, they moved to Bozeman, Montana, where she worked for the Gallatin County Extension Agent for the next ten years. Then they moved to Helena, Montana, in September of 1964, where she worked for the vice-president of the Union Bank. In 1965, moving to Great Falls, she worked for the president of 1st Federal Savings and Loan for three years. She retired in the spring of 1976 after 33 years in her profession.
She enjoyed being in the outdoors with her family, fishing, hunting, and boating, including times at their cabin on the Gallatin River with relatives and friends. As an avid bridge player, she played in most of the communities where she lived.
She was devoted to supporting her children and her grandchildren and was an active part of her grandchildren’s lives.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents and mother and father-in-laws, Lawrence A. Berg and Bessie E. Berg of Sutherland, Nebraska.
She is survived by her husband, John Berg, and her brother, Norman Joe Wilson (Jodi), of Lakeside, Colorado, by her oldest son, Robert (Joan) of Taupo, New Zealand, their daughters, Aprille Turner (Mark) and their daughters, Katherine and Elizabeth, of Dubbo, Australia, and Heidi Dunning (Chris) of Wellington, New Zealand, and their children Emily and Ben, and by her younger son, Ken (Barbara) of Helena, their sons, Kyle Berg of Lewistown, Montana, Kevin Berg of Austin, Texas, and Trevor Berg of San Francisco, California.
A private family graveside service will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. Memorials in Donna’s name may be sent to Mizpah Christian Retreat, 830 N. Hannaford, Helena, MT 59601 or to the American Legion Post #25, 815 West D Street, Wymore, NE 68466. To offer a condolence or share a memory of Donna, please visit: www.retzfuneralhome.com.
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Mary Berg-Bears says
Donna was my special Aunt, always kind, always loving, always with a story!!! I know that with her loss my life will be a little dimmer. My deepest sympathy and love to all of you her special family and most especially to my special Uncle John if I could emulate anyone in this life this special lady would have been at the top of my list.
Patty Frank says
I am deeply sorry to hear about Donna.
Donna was my cousin through the Ewing and Wilson families. We communicated through email in regards to our family tree.
With heartfelt condolences,
Cousin Patty