My beautiful picture
Laurita Ann (Lundbom) Berg, 87, passed away May 31, 2019, at her daughter's home after a long battle with dementia. She was born Feb. 20, 1932, in Cottage Grove, Ore., to Einer and Elsie Lundbom.
After graduating from Cottage Grove High School in 1950, she worked in Medford as a secretary for a dairy farm before returning to Cottage Grove. There, she worked as a telephone operator and also worked in the bean and hop fields in the area. On May 23, 1953, she married Robert "Bob" Berg of Drain, Ore.
Rita, as she was known, was a dedicated mother and United States Navy wife, who raised six children while frequently moving from coast to coast as Bob served as a submariner in the Navy. After Bob's retirement from the Navy, they settled in Oakville, where she was an active member of the Oakville Grange serving as secretary. She also assisted in the annual Independence Day celebrations.
Rita loved gardening, baking, knitting, crocheting, sewing and could even occasionally be found fishing with Bob. The high point of every summer was camping at Wickiup Reservoir in Oregon, where family and friends gathered around grandmas kitchen. She experienced much joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Rita was preceded in death by Bob, who passed in 2012; parents, Elsie and Einar; brothers, Richard and Gerald; and half brothers, Oscar, Roy and Gus; as well as grandson, Daniel.
She is survived by her sons, Mike (Alyce) of Oakville, Joseph (Tammy) of Mystic, Conn., John (Sheri) of Oakville, Patrick (Donna) of Centralia, and James (Carol) of Oakville; daughter, Susan (Chris) Kinsman of Mill Creek; sisters, Deanna of Oakville and Louise of Port Orchard; 18 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, at the Oakville Cemetery, with a celebration of life to follow at 2 p.m., at the Oakville Assembly of God Church, 114 W. Cedar St., Oakville, WA 98568. Remembrances may be made to Alzheimer’s disease research.
