Gloria Lucille Bergey passed away peacefully at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, Wis., on November 17, 2022, at the age of 91. Gloria was born on August 10, 1931, to Obert and Leona (Thompson) Garness in Spring Grove, Minn. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Newburg, MN, and confirmed at Henrytown Lutheran Church in rural Canton, Minn. She graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1949. Gloria married the love of her life, Gerald Bergey, on June 6, 1954, at Henrytown Lutheran Church.
Gloria and Gerald farmed in the Harmony and Lanesboro, Minn., area for many years until they moved to Harmony in 1992. Gloria loved to shop for clothes and jewelry and always took great pride in looking her best. Most of all, though, she enjoyed gathering her loved ones together and nourishing them with her delicious cooking and baking. Her homemade meatballs, biscuits, and strawberry jam were legendary among her friends and family.
Gloria is survived by her five children: Vickie (Rod) Kolpin of Lakeville, Minn., Kristi (Calvin) Hada of Louisville, Colo., Kathy (Mark) Wilbur of Decorah, Iowa, Linda (John) Larish of Moab, Utah, and Jerry Bergey of Lanesboro, Minn.; her 14 grandchildren: Garrett (Amanda) Kolpin, Tyler Kolpin, Molly (Brian) Kant, Carl “Rocky” Borgstrom, Benjamin Wilbur, Andrew (Samantha) Wilbur, Bianca (Ben Singer) Wilbur, Whitney (Nick) Janiczek, Jack Larish, Courtney (James) Swanson, Joshua (Kelsey) Bergey, Lucas (Sydney) Bergey, Katrina Bergey, and Madelyn Bergey; her seven great-grandchildren: Elise Kolpin, Peter Kolpin, William Kant, Sumner Bergey, Oliver Janiczek, Onyx Bergey, and Suvi Swanson; and her sisters-in-law Marlys Helwig of Northfield, Minn., Eleanor Underbakke of Burr Oak, Iowa, and Corrine Garness of Apple Valley, Minn.
Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Gerald, her parents Obert and Leona Garness, parents-in-law Glen and Gladys Bergey, grandchild Trent Wilbur, great-grandchildren Elsie Swanson and Mylan Bergey, brother Orlean Garness, brother- and sister-in-law Merle and Eloise Bergey, and brothers-in-law Dale Underbakke and Dale Helwig.
Memorials may be given to Henrytown Lutheran Church, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) or the charity of your choice.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at the Henrytown Lutheran Church, rural Harmony. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 pm, Monday, November 28th at the Henrytown Lutheran Church and one hour prior to the services. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.
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