Berge, Ronald and Ruth

Ronald Alton Berge was born July 17, 1931, to Bert and Betsy Berge of Sverdrup Township, Cooperstown, North Dakota.  Ronald is the youngest son of children.  Ronald graduated from Oak Grove High School in Fargo in 1949.  He served in the Army from 1953-1955.  On June 23, 1956, he married Ruth Benson at the Westley Church, Sverdrup Township, rural Cooperstown.

Ruth Deborah Benson Berge, daughter of Harvey A. and Mabel Benson of Hannaford, North Dakota, was born March 26, 1933, at Hannaford, North Dakota.  She is the youngest child of nine.  Ruth graduated from Oak Grove High School in 1951.  She later was employed in Washington, D. C., attended college in South Carolina, and worked in a cafe in Hannaford.

Ronald graduated from NDSU in Fargo in March 1960, with a degree in mechanical engineering.  After graduation, his employment took the family to various areas in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota.  In June 1972, the family moved to a farm north of Dazey, North Dakota, just inside of Griggs County.  December 1987, Ronald became employed at Sheyenne Tooling of Cooperstown.  They have six children:

1.     Debra Elaine, March 23, 1957.  Married Scott Brekke of Cooperstown, N. D,, October 20, 1979.  They reside in West Fargo, North Dakota.

2.     Ronald Jerome, January 30, 1959, resides on his grandparents farm in Cooperstown, North Dakota.

3.     Rhonda Joan, January 30, 1959, twin to Ronald J., married Bradley Gjesdal of Cooperstown, North Dakota, December 4, 1982.  They reside on Bradley's grandparents farm near Cooperstown.  They have two children: Garret Bradley, October 31, 1983; and Erika Ruth, April 12, 1986.

4.     Kathryn Louise, September  25, 1963, married Joseph Bialke of Park Rapids, Minnesota., August 10, 1985.  They reside in Grand Forks, North Dakota

5.     Elizabeth Ann, July 8, 1966, student at NDSCS.

6.     Daniel Albert, February 25, 1970, student at NDSCS.

Source:  Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 91