Sylvia Bergerud

Sylvia Bergerud, 82, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Thursday, December 22, 2011, at PioneerCare. She was born February 15, 1929, in Fergus Falls, the daughter of Christian and Selma (Haugen) Grotte. Sylvia grew up in Fergus Falls were she was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1947. On October 1, 1950, she married James Bergerud at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. They lived on the Bergerud family farm in Aastad Township, living there until September of 2010 when they moved to Park Gardens in Fergus Falls. Through the years she was a farm wife, employee of Otter Tail Power Company and was employed at Northwestern National Life Insurance Company. She became a secretary to the Otter Tail County Auditor and Otter Tail County Commissioners and was later elected Auditor of Otter Tail County, retiring in the early 1990s. In their retirement she and Jim started a Bed and Breakfast, enjoying all the guests. She loved gardening, hardanger, knitting, music, baking, cooking, genealogy and traveling to Norway. She was a member of Aastad Lutheran Church and its ladies aide, circle and church council. She also belonged to the Heimskringle Kor, the Otter Tail County Historical Society, Sons of Norway and was the past president of the State Auditors Association. Preceding her in death were her parents; a sister, Vivian Bergerud and an infant brother. Survivors include her husband, James of Fergus Falls; two sons, James Jr. (Wanda) and Mark (Sheila) all of Fergus Falls; eight grandchildren, Jesse, Erica, Rachel, Brandon, Brady, Christian, McKenzie and Isaac; two great-grandchildren, Daidre and Sophie and a brother, Luther Grotte of Fergus Falls. Memorials are preferred to Aastad Lutheran Church or PioneerCare Chapel. Visitation:   5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Service:   11 a.m. Thursday, December 29 at PioneerCare chapel in Fergus Falls. Clergy: Reverend Dan Cole Interment: Aastad Lutheran Cemetery, Rural Fergus Falls