Shirley Mae Berg

When people talk to us about our mom, they say that she was one of their favorite people, she always made them laugh, she was so sweet, she was a godly woman. Those things are all true, as well as many more things. She was an awesome mom and grandma, as well as a faithful wife for 65 years.

She was born in 1930 in Denver. Her mom (Theresa Erickson) had come to Denver as a small child from New York, and her dad (Ernest Erickson) moved here as a young man from Sweden. They were part of a very active Swedish community here. She attended East High School and was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where she met our dad, Bill Berg. Shortly after they were married, our dad left to serve with the Army in Korea, and so mom, a new wife, was left here by herself, to make a home and get ready for his return.

Mom made a lot of friends at church, sang in the choir and was a deaconess. We had lots of relatives here and she was faithful in looking after the older friends of her parents, and visiting them with us often. When we were growing up, there were many, many people who visited and shared a dinner with us and some would stay with us for awhile. Mom was always quick to fix some coffee and rolls whenever anyone came by. Lowry Air Force Base was close to us, so we had many airmen over for dinner after church. We also had lots and lots of missionaries visit us. We learned about life around the world because of mom's hospitality to God's servants.

When she was first out of high school, she worked for AT&T and moved up to being a representative that helped coordinate long-line events. She did some traveling with the company also. After we were born, she was primarily a stay-at-home mom. But she also had part-time jobs for the Western News (a Swedish community paper), the Rocky Mountain Baptist Conference (RMBC) and a couple of small businesses. She was an amazing proofreader. Sometimes to a fault. If there was a tiny mistake anywhere in a publication, she would find it. This talent remained with her almost to the end.

For many years, mom was active on the Women's Board of the RMBC. She helped with the Fall Refreshers, went to a lot of meetings, and I think primarily those sweet ladies just liked to be together. In fact, even though that Board has not been active for quite awhile, they get together every year. I am sure that it will not be nearly as fun without mom. I am sure she contributed a lot of laughter.

Mom was always involved in Bible Study. Whether it was at church, Community Bible Study, or just a casual group of friends, she was faithful to stay in God's word. When we were growing up, you could find her in the mornings before we were up, reading her Bible and having a cup of coffee.

Her Swedish heritage remained an important part of our family and home. It would only take a moment walking into their home to see that they were Swedish. Having coffee and rolls in the morning (Fika) was religiously observed. Our Christmas season was another very Swedish occasion. She taught us to make pepparkakor, butter cookies, almond cookies and cardamom bread, her specialty. She could make anything better with some cardamom bread!!!

If she had any hobbies, it would have to be that she loved to sort through pictures, newspaper articles, obituaries of friends and postcards. She loved to make piles of them, mark which ones she was going to send to whom, and then start over again. She also loved to eat out!! When we were small, if she told us we were having creamed tuna on toast, it was a sure bet we would be going out!! Fun fact: She was in the orchestra at East High with the astronaut Jack Swigert.

We haven't even had time to mention all that she has done for her grandkids, and all the traveling she has done. She made one mission trip to Mexico, and one to Guatemala, with Ted and Karen's medical team, with Dad and Nicolle also. She went to Germany to visit Dad's family twice, and the last time we were able to go with her. She was a little frail at that point, but we had a great time anyway. Many trips to Minnesota, canoeing, camping, visits to New York, New Mexico, California, and many places in between.

In the last year, when she was not able to get around as well, she would talk on the phone almost every day to her cousin Dorothy and her best friend from childhood, Louise. Louise couldn't see well, and mom would read ""Our Daily Bread"" devotional to her every day.

All of her family and friends would agree that her greatest characteristics were being silly, making us all laugh, and singing a random song for any occasion. It is already so quiet and dull here without her. She was the best mom, always welcomed any of our friends in as part of the family, always believed in us, and supported us and was always willing to help us in any way.

Her greatest love was of her Savior, Jesus Christ, and it's a sure thing that if she was here, that is the last thing she would want to tell you, that nothing else in her life was as important as her faith.

 

Celebration of Shirley's Life:

Friday, April 12, 2019

1:00 pm

Mission Hills Church

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

World Venture, Matt and Kristy Messick

20 Inverness Pl. E, Englewood, CO 80112

#166 on memo line of check only.

Or: https://give.worldventure.com/partner and search for #6160-166, Messick Crew. Please make notation that the donation is for the Shirley Berg Memorial Fund.