Delton was born to Agnetha and Alph Bergsgaard on August 27, 1929, on their farm in Maddock, ND. He passed away March 5, 2024 in Superior, WI.
Del had many and various jobs throughout his life, inventing and building equipment for anything he could imagine or that anyone needed. He left home and school around age 17, working throughout the upper Midwest with Great Northern Railroad. He was married to Ruth Elaine Peterson of Superior WI in 1950, divorcing in 1959. In Grand Forks, he met Marlene Joy Edkins of Clearwater Manitoba while rescuing her bus from break down. He was the chief mechanic and charter bus driver for Lake of the Woods Bus Line at the time. He worked for Troyer Manufacturing as a welder, then for Deaconess Hospital(Altru) as an ambulance attendant and orderly. He became the head of the Inhalation Therapy Dept. and worked there for 17 years. During this time he always had a shop and, often with son Darren at his side, he built trailers, campers, implements, turned wood, manufactured things for others, rescued birds, squirrels, a pair of raccoons; these were part of the household until ready to go back to the wild. He, Marlene and the kids loved to travel, visiting friends and family, crisscrossing the US and Canada, spending summers on the road in homemade campers and then modern 5th wheel campers. Once the kids were grown Del had numerous other jobs in Grand Forks, including at Concrete, Inc, Vigen Construction, and a season at a nursing home as Administrator. At the age of 71 he curiously wandered onto the site of the NP Railroad trestle bridge demolition project on the Red River, and was made Foreman, on the spot.
With Marlene’s passing in 2002, his life was forever changed. He continued living life how he knew, despite this devastating loss. He eventually returned to Superior WI. Daughters Monica and Pamela were near, providing close attention, social outings to baseball games, school activities, visits with friends and family. This location was convenient for daughter Cheryl as well. He set up another home shop, again operating Del’s Metal Fabrication. In his eighties, he worked for Captain Ed Montgomery, repairing tug boats damaged by the great Lake Superior. He willingly and gladly worked every day of his life, until his age finally prohibited it.
Del is survived by he and Ruth’s daughters Monica Tikkanen Superior WI, Cheryl Nelson (Robert) New Richmond WI; by he and Marlene’s children, Darren Bergsgaard (Linda) Grand Forks ND, Paula Lucius (Richard) St. Cloud MN, and many grand and great grandchildren.
Del was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Kenneth and Marlo, sister Karen Biegel, daughter Pamela Laurvick, and his wife Marlene.
Burial Service and Luncheon will be held June 8, 2024 at 11:00 am.
Viking Church 5161 31st St NE, rural Maddock ND