Ilene Bergerson, 77, of Thief River Falls, MN passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Thief River Care Center with her loving family by her side following a 12-year battle with cancer.
A gathering time for family and friends will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 6:00 PM Prayer Service on Monday, August 19, 2024 at Obit in Thief River Falls, MN. Burial will be at Clearwater Cemetery, Wyandotte Township, Pennington County, rural Plummer, MN at a later date.
Ilene Janice Vettleson was born April 17, 1947, in Thief River Falls, MN the daughter of Myrl and Bernice (Carruthers) Vettleson. She was baptized and confirmed at Clearwater Lutheran Church, Wyandotte Township, Pennington County, rural Plummer, MN. Ilene attended Country School District 35 in Wyandotte Township through 4th grade, then to Northrup Elementary School for 5th & 6th grade in Thief River Falls, Lincoln High School for grades 7 through 9 and graduated from the AC in Crookston graduating in 1965.
Ilene was united in marriage to Melvyn Bergerson on March 31, 1967, in Sisseton, SD. To this union three children were born, Wade, Tracy and Tamra. Their early years were spent between Arizona and Minnesota, settling in Oklee, MN in the mid-1970’s where they raised their family.
Ilene worked at Melby’s Grocery Store for Orlo and Millie Melby in Oklee and later she also worked at McIntosh Manor. In 1984 she purchased the Farmer’s Club in Oklee which she owned and operated until 1993. Ilene then moved to Thief River Falls where she sold insurance, later at Country Health and retired from DigiKey.
Throughout her years, Ilene was a wonderful cake baker, seamstress and animal lover. She enjoyed painting, calligraphy, crocheting and canning jelly. She and her significant other, Ronnie Davidson, loved spending time with family, going on adventures, visiting friends and most of all flying in his airplanes.
Ilene served on the Oklee City Council, Inter County Nursing Board and volunteered as an EMT with the Oklee Ambulance Service.
Survivors include her significant other, Ronnie Davidson; children, Wade (Trudi) Bergerson of Thief River Falls, Tracy Smith and Tamra Leivas both of Tucson, AZ; grandchildren, Adam Danielson, Casey (Janita) Krause, Brandon Danielson, Dillon Bushelle, Joshua (Ashley) Bergerson, Alesha Bergerson, Brice Bergerson, Justin Vasek, Christopher Pierson, Logan (Margarita) Vasek; great-grandchildren, Garrett, Isaac, Mason, Essa, Uziah, Tallulah, Tyrion, Emery and Grayson; siblings, Dana Jenkins of Thief River Falls and Mark (Anita) Vettleson of Brooks, MN; her beloved dog, Khaleesi; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by grandson, Chase Nelson; parents; brother-in-law, Jerry Jenkins; and the father of her children, Melvyn Bergerson.
# Ilene Bergerson, #