Obituary of Robert Berry

Robert Berry Sept. 10, 1916 Preceded in Death by his wife, Frances, Son, Harvey, Daughters Marcia and Nancy, Grandson Nick Mershon, siblings Ernest, Leonard, Henry, Stella, Florence, Gladys, Maurice, Burton and parents Edward & Olina. Survived by wife Mildred of Cambridge, MN, daughter Jean Mershon of Brainerd, MN, son Jack Berry of Crosslake, MN, daughter-in-law, Paulette Berry of Brainerd, MN, four grandchildren, Missy Bever (Mike) of Alaska, Scott Berry (Robbi) & Seth Berry (Missy) of Brainerd, MN, Charles Mershon of Duluth, MN, five great grandchildren, Derrick & Cameron Bever, Mia, Ella & Brielle Berry. Also survived by stepchildren James Berry (Carol) of McGrath, MN, David Berry (Kathy) of Loveland, CO, Dale Berry (Sharon) of Cambridge, MN, Arla Berry of Minneapolis, Paul Berry (Kirsten) of Minneapolis, and Eileen Halls (Tom) of Ellsworth,WI. Also survived by step-grandchildren Christopher (Beth), Elizabeth Novak (Tom), Jonathan (Pam), Benjamin (Esther), Rebecca Berry-Brohaugh (Paul), Daniel, Andrew J., Joshua (Joni), Katie Hanshew (R.J.), Andrew R., Matthew (Heather), Anne-Britt Mulberry (Sam), Amanda Robertson (Eric), Elisa Berry Fonseca (Ricardo) Sara Hein (Jim), 20 step great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and their families. Special Memories: Dad was born in Buffalo South Dakota where his father was working a sort of "supply wagon" for local business. They lived in a sod house and Gladys would share memories of how she had to kill rattlesnakes that came through the sod house wall. Dad was the youngest of Edward and Olina Berry. They moved back to the Opstead area where Dad graduated from Isle High School. During the Great Depression Dad worked in the CCC Camp near Garrison and Palisade, Minnesota. It was during World War II when dad was home on leave that he met Frances Erlandson at the Opstead Baptist Church. Their courtship led to marriage and mom took the train to Florida. Mom and Dad got married in February of 1944 in Pensicola Florida. Dad was stationed there in the Navy. He was sent to Hawaii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and his Brother Burton and sister Florence were also stationed in Hawaii. Mom and Harvey joined Dad in Hawaii when Harvey was 18months old. After the war, they traveled back to Opstead and Dad thought he might like farming. He tried a few times to raise cattle but they always seemed to break the fence and get loose. They were living in Opstead when their daughter Marcia was stillborn in 1947. Dad carried her from the hospital to the funeral home in the front seat of his car. They moved to Worland, Wyoming in 1948 where dad worked in the Post Office but after Jean was born in Nov. 1949, they both became lonesome for family back in Minnesota. They moved to Brainerd and Jack was born in 1951. Nancy was born in 1954 and died suddenly from Chicken Pox that turned to meningitis in 1957. Nancy's death was a real shock to the whole family. Dad loved to go camping, fishing, bowling and golfing. He loved to travel and we made many trips to Colorado, Wyoming, Washington and California to visit with his sisters Gladys, Florence and Stella and their families. A highlight was attending the Rose Bowl parade in 1964...we had to watch Dad's hour long slide show of the parade whenever company came to the house. We also had many gatherings with Leonard, Maurice and Burton and their families at Opstead. Dad worked the majority of his life at the Brainerd Paper Mill. He was very active at Temple Baptist church in Brainerd as a trustee and member of the choir. After his children left home, Dad and Mom would travel all over the country with friends in caravans of their campers. They became "Mobile Missionaries" in the last few years of their marriage after retirement. It was on their last trip in their 5th Wheel Trailer that mom's Leukemia turned acute and she died in 1985. Sept. 1986 was a joyous and festive time when Dad and Millie were married in Cambridge. Dad and Millie enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and Alaska and sharing time with their blended families. They enjoyed spending winters in Arizona and summers in Minnesota. They were active in the church in Cambridge and Dad enjoyed delivering meals on wheels to the seniors in the Cambridge area. They volunteered at the Senior Activity Center, at the clothes donation center, Shalom, and he was often volunteering in the senior housing unit they lived in. He was the designated door checker for many years, checking every morning and evening to make sure everyone was okay. They went to Tucson every winter and loved to play dominoes and cards and have coffee time with so many friends in the mobile home park. They were also blessed to be able to travel to Costa Rica, Alaska, Grand Cayman Islands, and Hawaii. The highlight of the summers was an annual camping trip with Millie's family. He loved to fish and play horseshoes and spend time around the campfire. Most of all we remember him for his love for his Lord Jesus Christ, gentle sense of humor, his quick wit and his gentlemanly manners with everyone he met.