Gone, But Not Forgotten!
1953
Parkers Prairie, MN
You learned not to ask Dad “Why?” really quickly at my house. If you didn’t, you got the pat answer: “Because, I’m a mean Daddy!” Which, of course, he wasn’t, but there it is!
Dad was great! Who else do you know that would take food, beverages, and other comforts to the strikers who were picketing his office? I don’t think that I have ever met someone who has any unkind words to say about Dad – including those who were picketing the railroad he was working for.I’ve been told that the Florida East Coastline Railway strike (that started in 1963) was one of the longest running strikes ever. But Dad was always cordial to on good terms with the picketers.
He had a cool office, too! Granted, in Miami it is not as if you NEED a heater, but he had a great one in his office – he had a working headlamp from a locomotive in his office that he used as a space heater. Sure, when it was on, it was too bright to work in the office – but it certainly warmed-up the room.
As the Scoutmaster of my Boy Scout Troop, he was a leader worth emulating. Though, you really didn’t want to complain about things that could not be corrected. I remember this one kid in the troop who wanted to stay-up all night on a camping trip because he was afraid there might be spiders in the tent. He swore that he could not sleep and so Dad told him to sit up in the tent and not stay awake all night. The kid was still sitting up snoring away in the morning when we found him the next day.
On the Church Committee, Dad was a great organiser and often got the different factions in the parrish to come to agreements where none seemed possible.
Wherever you are today, I hope that you’re kind to those around you!
Don Bergquist – May 26, 2018 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
