Marie Berge

Marie Martha Berge, 71, of Fergus Falls died Thursday, March 25, 2010 at Northwest Medical Center, Tucson, AZ. Funeral service will be held Thursday at 1:30 PM at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls with Rev. David Foss officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service. Coffee will be served afterwards with a time of song and testimony.

Martha was born December 15, 1938 in Battle Lake to Halvor and Martina (Tveitane) Vorvick. She was baptized at First Lutheran Church, Battle Lake and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. Martha attended rural schools in Otter Tail County and graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in 1956. She attended Augsburg College, Deaconess Hospital nurses training in Minneapolis graduating as a Registered Nurse. Later in her career Martha earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Jamestown College, Jamestown, ND, and a Masters Degree in Nursing Education from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Martha’s career led her to Merit Care, Fargo, ND; Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD; and the VA Hospital, Fargo, ND. She taught nursing education in the Tri-College System through Concordia College.

On November 10, 2001 she married Norman Berge at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. They enjoyed winter months in Tucson, AZ relaxing and volunteering for Wycliffe Bible Translators. Their summers were spent in Fergus Falls where they were active members of Bethel Lutheran Church

Martha enjoyed traveling. She made several trips to Norway with her parents as they grew older. Martha also professionally accompanied groups of nursing students studying medical systems in various European countries. She was always a helper, facilitating people.

Martha is survived by her husband, Norman; two sisters, Sigrid (Jim) Hagen, Newark, IL; Margaret (David) Strand, Starbuck, MN; one brother, Harold (Marilyn) Vorvick, Pelican Rapids, MN; several nieces and nephews, many relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Halvor and Martina Vorvick and nephew, Erik Strand.

Funeral Service: 1:30 pm Thursday, April 1, 2010 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls

Visitation: Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service. Coffee will be served afterwards with a time of song and testimony.

Clergy: Rev. David Foss

Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson, Fergus Falls