Agnes M. Berge, age 97, of Garretson, died on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at Palisade Healthcare Community in Garretson. Funeral services were held on Friday, April 5, 2019, at East Nidaros Lutheran Church, rural Baltic. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Agnes was born on September 30, 1921, to Oscar and Anna (Hilmoe) Hagen in Sioux Falls. She grew up on a farm in Sverdrup Township near Baltic and attended grade school in Sverdrup Dist. 20. She graduated from high school at Augustana Academy in Canton, South Dakota and attended Eastern Normal in Madison and Sioux Falls College. After the death of her parents in an automobile accident in 1942, Agnes and her sister lived with relatives.
Agnes taught school for several years; she taught in Renner School Dist. #2, Bothun School Dist. #13, Walkins School Dist. #144, and Egan Consolidated. She met Orlen when teaching in the Bothun School and they were married on December 29, 1949. After their marriage they moved to Agnes’ childhood home where they farmed until moving into Garretson in 1968. Orlen died on March 16, 2001.
Agnes was the director of the Garretson Senior Citizens and librarian at the Garretson Branch Library and also served on the Library Board of Trustees. Agnes was an active lifetime member of East Nidaros Lutheran Church. She served as the church organist for over 60 years. She also enjoyed playing organ for Sunday chapel services at Palisade Healthcare.
Agnes is survived by her nieces: Cindy Thompson and Lucille Gabriel, and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orlen; sister, Julette Havsgaard; nephew, Lyle Berge, and nieces, Linda Hasch and Marlys Meyerann.
Video tribute and on-line condolences at www.minnehahafuneralhome.com.
