Lyle Erwin Berge

1934-2016 81, of Thornton, died suddenly on March 3. Lyle was born at 12:25 a.m. on April 17, 1934 in the rural DeVall Hospital, Garretson, SD to Martin Oliver and Etta Marine Hokenstad Berge. He was baptized on June 10 at the (North) Split Rock Lutheran Church, Brandon, SD; interment of ashes will be at this rural cemetery at a later date. He was confirmed at the rural Norway Evangelical Lutheran Church in May, 1948. Lyle attended one room schools in Corson and western rural Garretson prior to his high school years in Garretson, graduating with a class of 30 in 1952. He attended Nettleton Business College for one year, then worked for Standard Oil prior to entering the Army in December, 1954. His service was primarily at Ft. Knox, KY where he was a neuropsychiatric technician. He also volunteered at a library. Lyle was able to complete his first year of college attending night school at the University of Louisville. In the fall of 1957, using the G.I. Bill, he continued with studies at the University of South Dakota. In 1997, he received an Associates Degree in Paralegal from Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs He met Beverly Ann Labbitt in September, 1957 at USD. They were married on August 24, 1958 in Sioux City, IA. She graduated in 1959. The couple moved to Denver in June 1960. Lyle initially worked for Skelly Oil and then in branch stores for Sherwin-Williams Paint for eight years. Jordan Boyd was born on October 6, 1960. Torin Grant was born on April 30, 1967. In 1971, the family relocated to Marshall, MN for 3 years, where he managed Berge’s Book Land. In early 1974, they moved to Pueblo, CO, where both sons graduated from East High. Attempts to co-purchase the Christian book store in town were unsuccessful, so he accepted a position with Kmart, managing Home Improvement and opening the lumber dept. He worked there for 17 years, the last five as the store sub- manager. The couple divorced in 1989 but remained on friendly terms. In 1990, Lyle met Billie Yvette Marseilles at Tabor Lutheran while he was Council President. The marriage of eleven years began January 4, 1991. They left Pueblo and soon established their home in central Colorado Springs. Their travels included trips to the East Coast to see her son, Christopher Carter, plus to Norway and to eastern Germany. He handled transportation at the Rehab Hospital while attending PPCC. Next were work tenures with lone attorneys in Woodland Park and Colorado Springs. A friendship begun at a Denver Sons of Norway lodge culminated with his marriage to Mechelle Marie Mattson on May 8, 2004; this ended within five years. They resided in Aurora, CO. Lyle then moved to an apartment in south Thornton. Lyle was active in each local Lutheran church he joined, often on Councils. At Advent Lutheran in Westminster, he was Congregation President for two years. Lyle joined Fjellheim Lodge, Sons of Norway, in June 1985 and became quite active locally after moving to Colorado Springs in 1992. He was lodge President in 1996 and 1997 and Lodge Hall President from 1999-2002. His first District Six office as Public Relations Officer began with the election in 1998; other offices were continuously held, including District President from 2010-2014. At the June 2014 convention he was elected to a four-year term on the International Board. During his term as President he also actively served on the district’s Camp Norge board in Alta, CA. plus on the District (8) President’s Council in Minneapolis. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Linda and her husband, Mick Hasch, and brother-in-law Don Gabriel. He is survived by son Jordan and daughter-in-law Christine, son Torin and daughter-in-law Alyssa, sister Lucille Berge Gabriel, aunt Agnes Berge, grandchildren Justin, Tina, Taylor Jon “TJ”, Nicole and Will, plus seven nephews and nieces and seventeen great-nephews and great-nieces. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either Advent Lutheran Church, Attn.: In memory of Lyle Berge; or to Sons of Norway, Attn: Foundation in memory of Lyle Berge. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 18 at Advent Lutheran Church (7979 Meade St., Westminster, CO 80030).