Goodwin T. Bergerud

Goodwin T. (Goodie) Bergerud, age 78 of Forest City, died Saturday, October 14, 2006 at Muse Norris Hospice in Mason City. Funeral service will be Monday, October 23 at 10:30 AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Lee Laaveg officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM Sunday, October 22 at the funeral home and an hour prior to service at the church.







Goodwin Theodor (Goodie) Bergerud was born at home in Aastead Township, Minnesota on January 10, 1928, the son of Hans and Hilda (Ongstad) Bergerud. He attended school in Aastead Township through the 8th grade. He left school to work on the farm with his father.





He enlisted in the United States Army on November 27, 1946 and served at the Panama Canal until his honorable discharge on June 1, 1948.





He was united in marriage to Grace Smidt in 1951 and together they had five children. The marriage later ended in divorce.





On January 10, 1968, he married Vera Nieman. The couple made their home in Forest City where Goodie worked as an electrician for the City of Forest City.





He loved to play the guitar and played in several bands over time. He enjoyed camping and traveling with Vera, and also enjoyed working with mechanics and tools on remodeling projects. Goodie is known for creating unusual ìtoysî from old cars, bikes and motorcycles.





He died on Saturday, October 14, 2006 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, after a lengthy illness, at the age of 78 years.





He is survived by two daughters, Sharon Boyd of Woodland, Alabama and Barbara (Lloyd) Reddick, of Remlap, Alabama; his sons, Dan (Sandy ) Bergerud of Virginia, Illinois, Steve (Kim) Bergerud of Iowa City, Iowa and Michael (Jeanne) Bergerud of Slidell, Louisiana. Also surviving are his step-children: Peg Long of Ankeny, Iowa; Ron Nieman of Mason City, Iowa; Barbara (Michael) Van Hooser of Russellville, Missouri; Susan (Todd) Kempf of Cedar Falls, Iowa and Kris (Bryan) Runyan of Ankeny, Iowa, as well as 22 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Also, Goodieís sisters, Esther Ugstad of Fergus Falls, Minnesota and Ruth Bryant of Gardnerville, Nevada; two sisters-in-law, Joan Schildt and Linda Swanson of Seward, Nebraska, several nieces, nephews and many friends.





Goodie was preceded in death by his wife, Vera and his parents, Hans and Hilda Bergerud, two brothers and two sisters and a son-in-law, William Boyd.