Ronald Leonard “Berggie” Bergquist
Ronald Leonard Bergquist (Berggie) was born July 4, 1932, in a Model A car on the way to the hospital in Minneapolis, MN, to Harold L.& Hilda J. (Gustafson) Bergquist. On October 6, 2020, at the age of 88, he went home to Heaven to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ. Ron’s family moved to Sandstone, MN, where he began elementary school. In 1939, the family moved to White Bear Lake, MN, where he graduated in 1950. After attending Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, for two years, he began working at Dayton’s Dept. Store in downtown Minneapolis. On May 17, 1954, he trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. This was a turning point in his life. He joined Elim Baptist Church in Minneapolis, and enrolled at Northwestern Bible College. Ron was in the Navy Reserve for 6 ½ years, then served in the Army for two years, stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged in April, 1959, and returned to Northwestern College, graduating in 1962. He enrolled at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating in 1966 with a Master of Divinity degree. On June 25, 1960, Ron married Mona Peterson. They enjoyed serving the Lord together. He pastored four years at First Baptist Church in Lake Benton, MN, and 18 years at Bethel Baptist Church in Burlington, WI. Throughout his life, Ron loved to tell others about the Lord and how they could know Him as personal Savior. In 1988, they moved to Lake Elmo, MN, and joined Woodcrest Baptist Church in Fridley. He worked at (then) Gateway Foods in Minneapolis a few years, and 9 years at Reell Precision Manufacturing Corp. in Vadnais Heights, retiring in 2001. They purchased a home in rural Princeton and enjoyed living in the country. They joined First Baptist Church in St. Francis, MN. Ron is survived by Mona, his loving wife of 60 years, sisters Mary Jo (Joanne) Koos of Duluth, MN, and Nancy Bell of Jacksonville FL, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Harold & Hilda Bergquist, sister Delores Knobel, brother Harold John (Johnny), infant twin brothers, one niece and one nephew. Public graveside service will be held Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 1 PM at Nicholas Cemetery in Spencer Brook Township, with lunch following at First Baptist Church in St. Francis, MN.