Orpha Thordis Holst Berg

Orpha Thordis Holst Berg, 94, died on March 5, 2016, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Orpha was born on June 12, 1921, in Underwood, MN, the daughter of Norwegian parents, Soren Andor Holst and Clara Agnes Haugen Holst. She was baptized on August 7, 1921, by Reverend Elias Pederson at the home of her Haugen grandparents. The family lived in Underwood and Aurdal Township until 1927, when the family purchased the farm NE of Underwood, where Orpha grew up. She was confirmed at Rindal Lutheran Church on June 16, 1935, by Reverend Johannes Ringstad. Orpha attended school at District #112 through the eighth grade and because of the deaths of her twelve year old brother, Lester, and her father in the summer of 1935, Orpha gave up her life-long dream of attending high school to help her mother on the farm.

On June 24, 1939, Orpha married Birger Berg, a Norwegian immigrant. The couple farmed in Aurdal Township. They built a new home on the farm in 1955. Orpha worked as a nurses’ aide at Lake Region Hospital, at the lefse kitchen, and sold Rawleigh products for many years. After Birger’s death in 1986, Orpha continued to live on the farm with her son, David, until she moved to the Silverleaf Apartments in Fergus Falls in 1995. Orpha moved to PioneerCare in Fergus Falls in September 2013.

Orpha was a member of Vang Lutheran Church, where she was active in Ladies Aid and Luther League. She also enjoyed teaching Sunday school. After Vang church was destroyed by fire, Orpha, Birger and David joined Stavanger Lutheran Church, where Orpha was active in Ladies Aid. She was also a member of Sons of Norway and Solørlag of America.

Orpha was well known for her delicious food. No one ever went hungry when visiting the Berg Farm. Besides gardening, baking and cooking, sewing and embroidering, Orpha enjoyed photography and studying the Norwegian language. She was fluent in Norwegian and utilized her language skills and photography on six trips to Norway. She continued to correspond with Birger’s and her relatives in Norway until her death.

Preceding Orpha in her death were her parents, Soren and Clara Agnes (Haugen) Holst; her brother, Lester; her husband, Birger Berg; two infants; and a grandson, Derrick Hanson.

Her family includes her children, Beverly (Dennis) Hanson of Merrifield (near Brainerd) MN, Karen (Rolf) Nelson of Park Rapids, MN, and David (Melanie) Berg of rural Fergus Falls; three grandchildren, Craig Hanson, Jill Hanson-Follingstad (Michael), Bernie (Tanja) Nelson; and two great-grandsons, Jay Derrick and Drew James Follingstad. She is also survived by numerous cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held for Orpha on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Stavanger Lutheran Church, visitation at 10:00 AM, service at 11:00 AM, with lunch following. Memorials are preferred to Stavanger Ladies Aid, Vang Cemetery Fund, or Morning Watch.

Assistance with arrangements was provided by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com