Marion Geraldine Berg Larson, of Milwaukie, Ore., passed away on Jan. 28, 2015. Marion was born in Lewistown, Mont., on May 9, 1917. Her parents Ingartha Thormodsgaard and Oswald Berg, hearty Norwegians, were ranchers in Lennep, Mont. Marion was raised on the Berg Ranch along the Musselshell River, a place that she treasured her entire life, now in the care of its fifth generation of Berg ranchers. The eldest child of four, she attended the one room school in Lennep and later high school in Harlowton and Bozeman, Mont. She was studious, whip smart, and loved to ride her horse into the hills north of the ranch to read books under a tree. Her mother passed away after the birth of Marion’s sister, Lois Berg Irion ’53, when Marion was 14. She became the ‘woman’ of the ranch family’ until she was succeeded by her dear stepmother Lois. This experience was formative and imbued her with a strength, resilience, and independence that characterized the rest of her life.

Marion was a top student in high school and placed first overall in chemistry in the state of Montana. She was awarded a scholarship to the University of Montana for this achievement. Despite tough economic times, her father chose to send Marion instead to St Olaf College, the college her mother Ingartha wished for her children to attend. Marion graduated from St. Olaf magna cum laude in 1938 with a degree in chemistry and came west to Portland, Ore. to train to be a lab technician. She worked in various medical offices and at Emanuel Hospital. She was the organist at Central Lutheran Church and active in the Luther League, a program for young adults. There she met her future husband, Palmer. They married after he returned from serving in the Army Air Force in WWII and raised two children, Eric and Grethe Larson ’72. She was a wonderful mother, dearly loved her family, and instilled a strong sense of family in her children, grandsons, and extended family.

A person of great depth and faith, Marion had an enduring interest in life, family, friends, and people, and an amazing strength of character. She was a genuinely beautiful person, inside and out. A talented writer, she wrote marvelous letters and was a community news columnist in the local paper for years. She served as the Milwaukie Lutheran Church organist and worked in the media center for the North Clackamas Schools. She called herself “Marion the Librarian.” She was a great cook and homemaker and turned the bounty of Palmer’s Hector Street garden into fabulous raspberry and strawberry jams, apple sauce, and pies. She loved flowers, nature, and sunsets and appreciated the beauty around her.

Later in life, Marion and Palmer enjoyed winters in the Arizona desert – initially in a humble trailer on property on the Sonoran Desert called the “Cactus Patch” and later at a lovely Vista Hermosa condo. They explored the Southwest and made a new circle of interesting friends. They travelled to Australia several times to visit their AFS daughter Patsy and also enjoyed trips to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, New Zealand and Fiji, and various places around the U.S., including several Thanksgivings in Hawaii with their children and grandchildren. Marion and Palmer moved to Rose Villa Retirement Community in 2002, where they spent their last years.

Family was important to Marion. She was especially proud of her artistic, talented husband of almost 67 years, Palmer. Together they were quite a pair and she was devoted to him in his declining years. She also was proud of her children and very proud of her five grandsons, Peder, Kris, and Paul Larson, and Andrew Mullins ’11 and Peter Mullins. She remained interested in them until her last days. She also had a strong sense of heritage and was interested in and devoted to her numerous nieces and nephews. She had a lovely smile, engaging blue eyes, a charming sense of humor, a wonderful laugh, and an elegant air about her.

Marion passed away peacefully at the Rose Villa Health Center. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Oswald Berg ’40, James Berg ’44, and Lois Marie, cousins, including Dorothy Berg Fallis ’43, and her husband Palmer. She leaves behind her loving family and friends, who will miss a multi-talented lady who never stopped being genuinely interested in others. Marion is survived by her son Eric, his wife, Teresa Bigelow, and his family, Peder and Suzy and their children Blake and Ryan, Kris and Joni, and Paul and Celia; by her daughter, Grethe, her husband, James Mullins, and her family, Andrew and Peter; by her AFS daughter, Patsy Withycombe, in Australia; a cousin, Jean Berg Ellison ’41; and by numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends.

Special appreciation is extended to the Rose Villa Health Center for the loving and compassionate care provided. Memorials may be made to the Milwaukie Lutheran Church Endowment Fund.