Phillis Berg, 94, passed away peacefully with her daughters at her side on Thursday, September 23, 2021, at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby, North Dakota.
Phillis Marie (Cruden) Berg was born January 25, 1927, the first child and first daughter of Pamphilus Jr. and Mary (Barr) Cruden. She was born at home on the farm known as the Marucheck farm in East Barton Township, Pierce County, N. Dak. Phillis was born with a birthmark on her face which caused her much heartache throughout her life, especially as a young girl. It concerned her not so much during her adult life for it taught her "to accept all things as they are" and not to question God's Will or His Ways or His Works.
In 1928 the family moved two miles west to the farm where she lived for 74 years. She attended Banner School District #2 through the grades and graduated from Barton High School in 1945. She attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks until 1947, then worked at Griffith Dept. Store in Grand Forks as a cashier in the business office. She spent a brief time in Waterville, Wash., but returned to Rugby where she worked at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company under the supervision of her Aunt Rachael Bardell, the chief operator. After a year she went back to Grand Forks where she worked at the Grand Forks Herald and Bridgeman Creamery. It was there, at a Saturday night dance in Grand Forks, that she met her husband Lawrence.
Phillis and Lawrence were married April 12, 1953, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Rugby. The couple started their married life on her parents' farm, assisting with its operation.
The family lived in Modesto, Calif., from 1959 -1961, seeking care and education for their two sons that had been born with Down's syndrome. Finding nothing, the family returned to the farm at Barton and resumed farming. Phillis and Lawrence were instrumental in starting the GCARC (Geographical Center Association for Retarded Children) and remained active in the organization until it dissolved many years later. She was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary and Rugby's Bethany Lutheran Church women's groups. In 1989, Phillis completed a family history book on her mother's side, the Airth- Hamilton Book, then started working on her father's family tree, the Crudens, which her daughter Pam helped her complete in 2013.
The couple retired from farming in 1996, and in 2002 moved into Rugby's Haaland Manor. Lawrence passed away in July 2008, and Phillis continued to reside at the Manor until 2015, when she moved to the Haaland Home. In September 2019 she moved to the Heart of America Care Center.
Phillis was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a letter writer, a picture taker, a gardener (both vegetable and flower), a genealogy enthusiast, a gracious hostess for family and holiday dinners, and a quiet, sweet soul who will be greatly missed. She was very proud of the family farm that was her parents, hers, and now is her daughter Penny's home.
Phillis is survived by daughters Pamela (Dave) Anderson, Rugby, and Penny (Jim) Pollman, Barton; five grandchildren, Travis (Lisa) Anderson, Chippewa Falls, Wisc., Joshua Anderson, Chelan, Wash., Kirsten (Dan) Lee, Lakeville, Minn.; Heather (Blake) Schaan, Harvey, N.Dak.; and Cody King, Devils Lake, N.Dak.; great-grandchildren Tiege, Tenley, Parker, Collin, Bentley, Gracelyn, Beckett, Isabelle, Boston, Kade, Reign, and Lyrical; a niece, Theresa (Cordell) Atkins, and nephew, Tom (Kathy) Rodgers, both of Colorado Springs, Colo., and numerous cousins and friends. Phillis was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence W. (July 2008); sons David L. (November 2004), Daniel R. (July 2014); a sister Donelda Rodgers (August 2013), and her parents.
Anderson Funeral Home
Phillis Marie (Cruden) Berg was born January 25, 1927, the first child and first daughter of Pamphilus Jr. and Mary (Barr) Cruden. She was born at home on the farm known as the Marucheck farm in East Barton Township, Pierce County, N. Dak. Phillis was born with a birthmark on her face which caused her much heartache throughout her life, especially as a young girl. It concerned her not so much during her adult life for it taught her "to accept all things as they are" and not to question God's Will or His Ways or His Works.
In 1928 the family moved two miles west to the farm where she lived for 74 years. She attended Banner School District #2 through the grades and graduated from Barton High School in 1945. She attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks until 1947, then worked at Griffith Dept. Store in Grand Forks as a cashier in the business office. She spent a brief time in Waterville, Wash., but returned to Rugby where she worked at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company under the supervision of her Aunt Rachael Bardell, the chief operator. After a year she went back to Grand Forks where she worked at the Grand Forks Herald and Bridgeman Creamery. It was there, at a Saturday night dance in Grand Forks, that she met her husband Lawrence.
Phillis and Lawrence were married April 12, 1953, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Rugby. The couple started their married life on her parents' farm, assisting with its operation.
The family lived in Modesto, Calif., from 1959 -1961, seeking care and education for their two sons that had been born with Down's syndrome. Finding nothing, the family returned to the farm at Barton and resumed farming. Phillis and Lawrence were instrumental in starting the GCARC (Geographical Center Association for Retarded Children) and remained active in the organization until it dissolved many years later. She was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary and Rugby's Bethany Lutheran Church women's groups. In 1989, Phillis completed a family history book on her mother's side, the Airth- Hamilton Book, then started working on her father's family tree, the Crudens, which her daughter Pam helped her complete in 2013.
The couple retired from farming in 1996, and in 2002 moved into Rugby's Haaland Manor. Lawrence passed away in July 2008, and Phillis continued to reside at the Manor until 2015, when she moved to the Haaland Home. In September 2019 she moved to the Heart of America Care Center.
Phillis was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a letter writer, a picture taker, a gardener (both vegetable and flower), a genealogy enthusiast, a gracious hostess for family and holiday dinners, and a quiet, sweet soul who will be greatly missed. She was very proud of the family farm that was her parents, hers, and now is her daughter Penny's home.
Phillis is survived by daughters Pamela (Dave) Anderson, Rugby, and Penny (Jim) Pollman, Barton; five grandchildren, Travis (Lisa) Anderson, Chippewa Falls, Wisc., Joshua Anderson, Chelan, Wash., Kirsten (Dan) Lee, Lakeville, Minn.; Heather (Blake) Schaan, Harvey, N.Dak.; and Cody King, Devils Lake, N.Dak.; great-grandchildren Tiege, Tenley, Parker, Collin, Bentley, Gracelyn, Beckett, Isabelle, Boston, Kade, Reign, and Lyrical; a niece, Theresa (Cordell) Atkins, and nephew, Tom (Kathy) Rodgers, both of Colorado Springs, Colo., and numerous cousins and friends. Phillis was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence W. (July 2008); sons David L. (November 2004), Daniel R. (July 2014); a sister Donelda Rodgers (August 2013), and her parents.
Anderson Funeral Home
Phillis Berg, 94, passed away peacefully with her daughters at her side on Thursday, September 23, 2021, at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby, North Dakota.
Phillis Marie (Cruden) Berg was born January 25, 1927, the first child and first daughter of Pamphilus Jr. and Mary (Barr) Cruden. She was born at home on the farm known as the Marucheck farm in East Barton Township, Pierce County, N. Dak. Phillis was born with a birthmark on her face which caused her much heartache throughout her life, especially as a young girl. It concerned her not so much during her adult life for it taught her "to accept all things as they are" and not to question God's Will or His Ways or His Works.
In 1928 the family moved two miles west to the farm where she lived for 74 years. She attended Banner School District #2 through the grades and graduated from Barton High School in 1945. She attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks until 1947, then worked at Griffith Dept. Store in Grand Forks as a cashier in the business office. She spent a brief time in Waterville, Wash., but returned to Rugby where she worked at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company under the supervision of her Aunt Rachael Bardell, the chief operator. After a year she went back to Grand Forks where she worked at the Grand Forks Herald and Bridgeman Creamery. It was there, at a Saturday night dance in Grand Forks, that she met her husband Lawrence.
Phillis and Lawrence were married April 12, 1953, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Rugby. The couple started their married life on her parents' farm, assisting with its operation.
The family lived in Modesto, Calif., from 1959 -1961, seeking care and education for their two sons that had been born with Down's syndrome. Finding nothing, the family returned to the farm at Barton and resumed farming. Phillis and Lawrence were instrumental in starting the GCARC (Geographical Center Association for Retarded Children) and remained active in the organization until it dissolved many years later. She was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary and Rugby's Bethany Lutheran Church women's groups. In 1989, Phillis completed a family history book on her mother's side, the Airth- Hamilton Book, then started working on her father's family tree, the Crudens, which her daughter Pam helped her complete in 2013.
The couple retired from farming in 1996, and in 2002 moved into Rugby's Haaland Manor. Lawrence passed away in July 2008, and Phillis continued to reside at the Manor until 2015, when she moved to the Haaland Home. In September 2019 she moved to the Heart of America Care Center.
Phillis was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a letter writer, a picture taker, a gardener (both vegetable and flower), a genealogy enthusiast, a gracious hostess for family and holiday dinners, and a quiet, sweet soul who will be greatly missed. She was very proud of the family farm that was her parents, hers, and now is her daughter Penny's home.
Phillis is survived by daughters Pamela (Dave) Anderson, Rugby, and Penny (Jim) Pollman, Barton; five grandchildren, Travis (Lisa) Anderson, Chippewa Falls, Wisc., Joshua Anderson, Chelan, Wash., Kirsten (Dan) Lee, Lakeville, Minn.; Heather (Blake) Schaan, Harvey, N.Dak.; and Cody King, Devils Lake, N.Dak.; great-grandchildren Tiege, Tenley, Parker, Collin, Bentley, Gracelyn, Beckett, Isabelle, Boston, Kade, Reign, and Lyrical; a niece, Theresa (Cordell) Atkins, and nephew, Tom (Kathy) Rodgers, both of Colorado Springs, Colo., and numerous cousins and friends. Phillis was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence W. (July 2008); sons David L. (November 2004), Daniel R. (July 2014); a sister Donelda Rodgers (August 2013), and her parents.
Anderson Funeral Home
Phillis Marie (Cruden) Berg was born January 25, 1927, the first child and first daughter of Pamphilus Jr. and Mary (Barr) Cruden. She was born at home on the farm known as the Marucheck farm in East Barton Township, Pierce County, N. Dak. Phillis was born with a birthmark on her face which caused her much heartache throughout her life, especially as a young girl. It concerned her not so much during her adult life for it taught her "to accept all things as they are" and not to question God's Will or His Ways or His Works.
In 1928 the family moved two miles west to the farm where she lived for 74 years. She attended Banner School District #2 through the grades and graduated from Barton High School in 1945. She attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks until 1947, then worked at Griffith Dept. Store in Grand Forks as a cashier in the business office. She spent a brief time in Waterville, Wash., but returned to Rugby where she worked at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company under the supervision of her Aunt Rachael Bardell, the chief operator. After a year she went back to Grand Forks where she worked at the Grand Forks Herald and Bridgeman Creamery. It was there, at a Saturday night dance in Grand Forks, that she met her husband Lawrence.
Phillis and Lawrence were married April 12, 1953, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Rugby. The couple started their married life on her parents' farm, assisting with its operation.
The family lived in Modesto, Calif., from 1959 -1961, seeking care and education for their two sons that had been born with Down's syndrome. Finding nothing, the family returned to the farm at Barton and resumed farming. Phillis and Lawrence were instrumental in starting the GCARC (Geographical Center Association for Retarded Children) and remained active in the organization until it dissolved many years later. She was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary and Rugby's Bethany Lutheran Church women's groups. In 1989, Phillis completed a family history book on her mother's side, the Airth- Hamilton Book, then started working on her father's family tree, the Crudens, which her daughter Pam helped her complete in 2013.
The couple retired from farming in 1996, and in 2002 moved into Rugby's Haaland Manor. Lawrence passed away in July 2008, and Phillis continued to reside at the Manor until 2015, when she moved to the Haaland Home. In September 2019 she moved to the Heart of America Care Center.
Phillis was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a letter writer, a picture taker, a gardener (both vegetable and flower), a genealogy enthusiast, a gracious hostess for family and holiday dinners, and a quiet, sweet soul who will be greatly missed. She was very proud of the family farm that was her parents, hers, and now is her daughter Penny's home.
Phillis is survived by daughters Pamela (Dave) Anderson, Rugby, and Penny (Jim) Pollman, Barton; five grandchildren, Travis (Lisa) Anderson, Chippewa Falls, Wisc., Joshua Anderson, Chelan, Wash., Kirsten (Dan) Lee, Lakeville, Minn.; Heather (Blake) Schaan, Harvey, N.Dak.; and Cody King, Devils Lake, N.Dak.; great-grandchildren Tiege, Tenley, Parker, Collin, Bentley, Gracelyn, Beckett, Isabelle, Boston, Kade, Reign, and Lyrical; a niece, Theresa (Cordell) Atkins, and nephew, Tom (Kathy) Rodgers, both of Colorado Springs, Colo., and numerous cousins and friends. Phillis was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence W. (July 2008); sons David L. (November 2004), Daniel R. (July 2014); a sister Donelda Rodgers (August 2013), and her parents.
Anderson Funeral Home
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