Harlan Richard “Dick” Berger passed away peacefully on July 16, 2010 in Sedro-Woolley, Washington at the age of 89. He was a resident of Country Meadow Village at the time of his passing. 
Harlan Richard was born on January 12, 1921 in Peoria, Illinois to parents Edward and Emma (Kuntz) Berger and was raised in that area.
He attended and graduated from Bradley University in Peoria and then enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He served his country in Hawaii and while there, met Frances Roedell, who was also in the Navy. They were married on December 23, 1945.
The couple moved back to Illinois, where Dick worked for International Harvester and then Massey-Ferguson in Credit and Collections, calling on farmers during those years. During this time their three children were born, Diane Celeste, Steven and Randy.
In 1959, Dick accepted a transfer from Springfield, Illinois to Minnetonka, Minnesota where he moved his young family and continued to work for Massey-Ferguson. Dick was also employed as a Credit Manager by General Electric Credit Corporation, Rodgers Hydraulic, the Polaris Corporation and the Peavey Company while in the Minneapolis area. Dick and Fran were active in the Westminster Presbyterian Church where they served and attended regularly.
Dick had a great life living in Minnesota, where he loved to fish at the state’s ninth largest lake, Lake Minnetonka and ice fish at the second largest lake, Lake Mille Lacs. He was known to always have freshly frozen fish available for his friends. Dick was also a fine golfer, winning trophies in company tournaments.
Dick and Fran were very supportive of their three children in their musical endeavors during these years, and he and Fran took turns waiting for hours during their kids’ private lessons and youth symphony rehearsals. In later years, they also regularly drove to visit Diane Celeste, Steven and Randy and grandchildren in Washington state and California.
In 1989 Dick encountered tragedy when Frances died suddenly in a head-on car accident. Though they were set to relocate and had a house in escrow in Fresno, California where Randy and family lived, Dick remained in the Minneapolis area. It was during this time that he established contact with Jean Compton, whom he had known from Portland, Oregon. The Comptons and Bergers were close friends, and Jean had lost her husband, Dave, to cancer. On April 11, 1992, Dick and Jean were happily married in Portland and bought a house together in Raleigh Hills.
After Jean’s passing in 2004, Dick moved from Portland to Sedro-Woolley, Washington to be close to his daughter, Diane Celeste and son-in-law, Roger Weaver. Dick became a resident of Country Meadow Village in 2004 and greatly enjoyed his years there. He participated in most of the outings and was a part of CMV’s United Church of the Grateful. He will be remembered for his friendliness, his sense of humor, his steadfastness through adversity and his love of music. His family will also remember him for his monetary acts of kindness through the years.
Dick is survived by his daughter, Diane Celeste Weaver and husband, Roger, of Sedro-Woolley; son, Steven Richard Berger and wife, Barbara, of Littlerock, California and son, Randall Edward Berger and wife, Sherrill, of Fresno, California and step-children, Tom and Nancy Compton. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Noah, Benjamin, David, Krista, Anna, Sharon, Susi, Jason, Nathan, Lee and Joel; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Services for Dick will be at Country Meadow Village, 1501 Collins Road, Sedro-Woolley on Wednesday, July 28 at 3:00 pm. Stan Wing will be officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Memorials are suggested to the First United Church of the Grateful, c/o Ray Tompkins, 24223 Mosier Rd., Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284.
