Orrin C Berg

Orrin Berg, 88, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at his residence under the care of Vivie Hospice, with family by his side.

Orrin Berg was born May 20, 1938 to Carlton and Olga (Ronningen) Berg at Boysen Hospital in Pelican Rapids and delivered by Dr. P. Boysen, they lived north west of Pelican Rapids in Norwegian Grove Township. When he was six years old, Orrin had pneumonia and Dr. Korda came right to the house, picked him up and took him to the hospital. His family lived in several other homes in and around Pelican Rapids and then moved to Maplewood Township in 1948, to what is now Maplewood State Park.

He was baptized at Grove Lake Lutheran Church on June 19, 1938 and confirmed at Bagstevold Lutheran Church in Erhard on June 29, 1952. Orrin attended country school at District #145. He walked through the woods to school with his friend, Gale T. In 1957, Orrin graduated from Pelican Rapids High School. After graduation Orrin went to work for Robert Schreiber in Foxhome for three years.

After marriage he and Caroline lived at Myrt and Rays, their son Marty was born. In January 1962, they moved to Campbell to help farm for Edgar Deal, Lori was born here. In December they moved to Juel Shelstads in Foxhome to help farm. They moved to Fergus Falls in 1963 on north Broadway, Monte was born in 1966. In 1968 they moved to the home that they would live in for the next 54 years on West Spruce Street. March 1, 2022 Caroline and Orrin moved in to Stetson Village in Fergus Falls.

In 1969 he started working at Otter Tail Power Hoot Lake Plant and retired in 2000 with 31 years of dedicated service. Not wanting to be bored, Orrin went to work for Chuck Schreiber in Foxhome part-time for a few years. During retirement, Orrin vacationed all over Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, antiquing for Jewel Tea with friends, Dale and Janice. He traveled to New York and the East Coast by bus and made a trip to Alaska for an Alaskan Cruise with Sheldon and Mavis. They made several trips to Missouri to visit family with stops in Branson on the way, including Medora and Montana to relay grandchildren with family. There was also a bus trip taken to Dollywood in Tennessee with friends, Virgil and Bev.

In 1993 Orrin and Caroline started to mow a small patch of grass on the 40-acres at Caroline’s home place, which turned into trails in the woods, many deer stands, a big shed, two tractors, an outhouse, riding lawn mowers, and many memories with bonfires, picnics, tractor rides through the woods, and camping; along with a huge kettle of homemade beef vegetable soup with dumplings in the fall.

Orrin and Caroline had a love for Old Time and Classic Country Music starting when they were young, attending Old Time dances at the Maplewood Town Hall. Thru the years also attending dances at Spruce Lodge, Perry’s, Silver Dollar, Last Resort, and the Glassbar. Much later in their retirement years, they would meet up with friends to dance at the Eagles and the VFW in Fergus Falls, VFW in Alexandria, Eagles in Wahpeton, Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood, and made several trips down to Lake Benton as seen on Prairie Public TV, Funtime Polka.

After retirement, Orrin worked in his woodshop in the winter and he made many projects for the whole family. He made many frames, quilt racks, shelves, little wooden rockers for all of his granddaughters for their dolls, and all of his grandsons got a shelf in the shape of a baseball glove that the bat could hang from and the ball sit on the shelf. All of these projects were made from oak, and Caroline stained them.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Carlton and Olga Berg; in-laws, Obert and Helen Nelson; grandparents, Carl and Mina Berg and Olaf and Anna Ronningen; brother-in-law, Duane Nodsle, and grandson, Matthew Nelson.

Orrin is survived by his wife, Caroline; his children, Marty (Reitta) Berg, Lori (Keith) Lien, Monte (Jane) Berg, and Rick (Samantha) Nelson; his grandchildren, Megan (Chuck) Schwantz, Preston (Susie) Berg, Zachary Hagedorn, Amber Hagedorn, Jordan Berg, Ricky Nelson Jr., Melissa Catterlin, Ciara (Tim) Lawrence, Obi Nelson; step-grandson, Robbie (Stephanie) Thompson; great-grandchildren, Gunner Schwantz, Brooklyn and Maddie Berg, Eden and Isaiah Hagedorn, Lillie Nelson, Lucas Moss, Wyatt, Nolan, and Cassie Catterlin; sister, Mavis (Sheldon) Schleske; sister-in-law, Carol Nodsle, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family would like to extend a special Thank You to Vivie Hospice for the care Orrin received.

Memorial Service: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 29, 2026 at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Chapel in Fergus Falls, with visitation one-hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Reverend Eliza Johnson

Private Family Interment: Maplewood Lutheran Cemetery, rural Erhard, MN

Arrangements provided by Glende Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.