Marlin Virgil Berg

Marlin was born in Hannaford, ND to Hjalmer and Marie Berg, joining his older brother, and lifelong friend, Duane. When Marlin was around 5 years old, in the midst of the Great Depression, the family moved West to Spokane, WA for better employment and financial opportunities. Marlin attended N. Central high school and sang in the church choir. When he was 16, one night after choir practice, he drove four girls home in his father’s car. Betty Shaffer, age 15, managed to commandeer the coveted front passenger seat next to Marlin. She was his last passenger delivered home on that trip. For the next 81 years, she remained his girl. Marlin and Betty then dated in high school. Hjalmer worked an evening shift, so, on date nights, Marlin would ride his bike to Hjalmer’s workplace, trading the bike for his father’s car. (When the date “went long,” Hjalmer found himself riding Marlin’s bike home in the dark.) Marlin and Betty were married at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on September 3, 1948. They were 18 and 17 years old. Brother Duane and his future wife Donna were among their attendants. They bought their first home for $3600, a one bedroom, one nursery house on 2 lots. Marlin commenced the first of many building projects, adding a second bedroom. By then Dave (1950) and Vonnie (1951) had joined their growing family. Marlin worked as a shoe repairman while Betty managed the home. In 1952 they moved to a larger home on Gordon Street. Marlin again applied his building skills. He removed a large tree and learned to operate a bulldozer, adding 3 bedrooms — space that would be well used when Patti was born in 1956 — and a full daylight basement that was large enough for their square-dance group. In 1954 Marlin joined DuPont Corporation, first as a warehouse worker and later as a manager. Don joined the family in 1964. In 1968 DuPont closed its Spokane operation; Marlin was offered a transfer to their Portland warehouse. The Berg family Spokane years were spent enjoying Sunday dinners with their extended families. They purchased a cabin on Hayden Lake; Duane and Donna bought the adjacent lot. Betty and Donna and their (6) kids spent entire summers (Memorial Day to Labor Day) at the lake, where they enjoyed using the boats that Marlin and Duane had hand-built in Marlin’s garage. Marlin and Duane worked during the week in Spokane and joined their families at the lake on the weekends. Once in Portland, the family rented for a few months while they built their new home in Milwaukie. Marlin again applied his building skills to cut costs. They joined Milwaukie Lutheran Church where they found many new friends and charitable activities. They sold their lake cabin in 1978, purchasing a motor home for camping and travel. Marlin stayed with DuPont until his 1989 retirement. He and Betty enjoyed traveling the USA in their motor home and taking trips to Hawaii, Barbados, England, and Wales. An annual highlight was the Ft. Stevens camp-out. In recent times, Marlin looked forward to family functions and attending grandchild and great-grandchild events. A recent highlight has been “Christmas in July” at Mayfield Lake and the (actual) Christmas family gathering at the Rooney home. Marlin was, above all else, a devoted family man. He did not need to tell anyone that. Instead, he showed it by living it. We all loved and admired him. We miss him now.

Marlin Virgil Berg

September 29, 1929 - March 3, 2026