Gordon Donovan Berggren passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2013, surrounded by family. Gordon was born on June 20, 1933 to his parents who came to the United States from Sweden, Gotfrid and Dagny (Henrickson) Berggren. He attended school and graduated from Strandquist High School in 1951. In his younger years, Gordon was an excellent dancer and a great basketball player. He enjoyed his time with people and he always cared more about others than himself. He loved telling stories and hearing them also; he always made it a point to remember people's names. He really enjoyed playing the guitar, the accordion, playing cards (solitaire and pinochle), and driving around looking at the crops and fields. Gordon was a good brother, good uncle, and good friend. He had a heart of gold. He started working on the Julius Kleinwachter farm while in school and continued for a few years until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1953, he was honorably discharged in 1955, and then went to work for the Milwaukee Railroad and Great Northern Railroad Company He bought a home in Circle Pines, MN and began his career as a bricklayer with the Dean L. Witcher Construction Company from 1956-1968, receiving his journeyman card in 1959. Gordon was excellent at this skill and he had a hand in building some of the schools and hospitals in this area, including Altru in Grand Forks, the Columbia Mall, Northland School in East Grand Forks and the Roseau School. In 1962, he came home from Circle Pines on week-ends to small grain farm at the homeplace near Karlstad. Then moved back in 1968 to farm full-time, as he worked part-time bricklaying until retiring the bricks in 1997. Gordon is survived by one brother, Jerome (Kathie) of Strandquist; one sister, Betty Graff of Moorhead, MN; seven nieces and nephews: Bob (Denise) Berggren; Barb (Gary) Lewis; Buddy (Cindy) Berggren; Paul (Bonnie) Berggren; Claudia Berggren; Larina Berggren; Lisa Graff; great nieces and nephews: Nils, Jens and Bria Berggren; Christopher and Barry Lewis; Salina Berggren; Anthony (Patty) Berggren, Landon and Lexi Berggren; Mackenzie Berggren; Jessie, Cheyenne and Ari Ann Berggren; and Kali Oistad; Paulina Berggren; and many cousins and friends. Gordon is preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, John and Lisa Henrickson and Nils and Ingrid Berggren, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Gordon was loved beyond words by his family and friends and he will be missed by all.

Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. Thur., Oct. 10, at First Lutheran Church in Karlstad. Visitation will be after 6 P.M. Wed. with a 7 P.M. prayer service at Collins Funeral Chapel, Karlstad, and at the church one hour prior to services Thur. morning. Burial will be in the Karlstad Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Karlstad American Legion Post. #445.