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Memorial services for Anna J. Berge, 94, of Alta, formerly of Aurelia, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta. Inurnment will be at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Aurelia.
Anna Jeanette Larsen, daughter of Louis and Minna Larsen, was born Jan. 11, 1930, in Audubon. She passed away at WEL-Life assisted living in Alta, surrounded by her loved ones on March 22, 2024.
Among Anna’s childhood remembrances was an ornery Shetland Pony that no one could ride because it was known to rub a rider off against the door of the barn. She walked to a country school (up hill, both ways). Anna enjoyed gymnastics as a child, and was often found standing on her head or doing cartwheels. She and her extended Danish family were close and had frequent gatherings that included multiple families and lots of Danish foods including loaves of rye bread, open faced sandwiches with leverpostej and rullepolse. She was a good decorator and felt free to re-arrange anyone’s home if left unattended.
Anna also attended school at Viola, Audubon and then Dana College in Blair, Neb. She went on to nursing school in Des Moines at Iowa Lutheran. Upon graduation, she worked for her brother, Dr. Lawrence Larsen, in his office in Harlan. There she met and fell in love with a handsome Norwegian intern, Richard Berge. On Nov. 25, 1953, they were united in marriage in Audubon, and were married for 52 years. Anna raised and cared for six active children, litters of basset hound puppies, multiple assorted animals, including a black bear named Duchess. Shortly before her death, she remarked that “Maybe the bear wasn’t such a good idea.”
Anna was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta for close to 67 years. She worked in many capacities: as a Sunday School and Bible School teacher and loyal member of women’s groups at church. With her friends at Trinity, she decorated, cleaned, helped serve meals at church and Easter breakfasts. She assisted assembling many quilts for the LWR. Anna would often haul a station wagon full of Aurelia children (both hers and others) to Sunday School and/or Bible School. On Sundays, the Berges were known to arrive after the steeple bell rang to fill the back pew or balcony of the church. Anna was forgiven for leaving her three-year-old behind once on the trip home.
Anna enjoyed Bridge and Pinochle with her card clubs and loved being with friends. She frequently enjoyed coffee and conversation with friends and neighbors. She was very involved with Aurelia Historical society, Cub Scouts and was a supporter of many community events. She loved playing Hand and Foot, Shanghai and Gin Rummy with family right up to her last days, winning more than not. She was also a frequent winner in Bingo at WEL-life. She was comfortable and happy at WEL-life and appreciated the loving staff. When asked how she was, she would say with a smile, “I’m fine, I am 94!”
Preceding her in death were her husband, Dr. Richard Deane Berge on April 2, 2006; son Eric Christian Berge on Aug. 10, 2013; her brothers and sisters-in-law: Lawrence and Jane Larsen; Arnold and Dorothy Ann Larsen; sister and brother-in-law, Neoma and Emmert Steen; and in-laws: Phyllis (Berge) and Jim Hanson and Jim Smith.
Survivors include her children and their families: Steven and Jean (Krebs) Berge of Iowa City, and their daughters: Kathryn Berge and husband Peter Nagle, and Kristine Berge; Beth and Russ Winterhof of Aurelia, with sons: Nathan Winterhof and wife Sara Pearson and great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Pfeifer, Ehren and his wife Karen (Bogenschutz) Winterhof and great-granddaughter Elizabeth; and their third son Philip Winterhof; Joel Berge of San Mateo, Calif., and his cat Pip; Rebecca and Fred Haberecht of Fort Collins, Colo., and children Hannah Haberecht and Freddie Haberecht; Jennifer Berge and Robert Morgan of West Burlington, and their children Zachary and Kelsey (Shady) Morgan and Lauren Morgan.
She is also survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law: Peter and Inetta Larsen of Des Moines; and Philip and Sandy Larsen of Arden Hills, Minn.; Phelva Smith of Oak Lawn, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for all the acts of kindness shown to Anna and to the family throughout their lives in the Aurelia community. We all know Anna is ‘fine’ and is in the hands of God.
