OBITUARY

James D. Berg

October 29, 1955–July 6, 2024

James Berg, a resident of Dayton, Wash., passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on July 6, 2024. He was 68 years old.

Jim was born October 29, 1955, in Preston, Wash., to Algot "Rast" and Marjorie Berg. Jim loved sharing stories and lessons learned from growing up in the close-knit Swedish community of 500. Life in Preston revolved around the local sawmill where his dad operated forklift, the Preston Baptist Church, Butchy's Groceries, and the volunteer fire department where men of the community served their neighbors. His time volunteering at the fire department deepened his caring for others and he became what today is called an EMT. He grew up surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, and classmates, leading to strong family connections and lifelong friendships. Jim attended primary school in Preston and graduated from Issaquah High School in 1974.

Always willing to work hard and be of service, Jim worked at the local service station in Snoqualmie, and later at age 21 became the manager of Frank's Chevron in Bellevue. Jim loved playing baseball and basketball until sustaining numerous knee injuries, and then recognized he needed to find a job with medical benefits. He was blessed with the opportunity to interview at The Boeing Company in the Fall of 1979. In true Jim fashion he surprised the interviewer when he was able to read the blueprints on the interview room wall and requested a chance to work six months to prove himself. He was hired in November 1979 and retired in January 2020 after a 40-year career. He would be the first to say he learned much from the challenges of the work and from the co-workers he had the privilege of working and sharing life with. Jim's life was forever enriched by the friendships of his many wonderful Boeing colleagues.

In 1980, Jim married Barbara Blanchette, and from that union came son Gunnar James Berg. After apartment and condo living, they were fortunate to purchase a very special home in a West Seattle neighborhood to raise Gunnar. Wonderful memories and stories came from road trips, summer night baseball games, Gunnar's little league, Husky Deli and Ice Cream and other adventures. Jim pursued swimming and cycling and trained and competed in the STP (Seattle to Portland), the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver), and team triathlons. He also discovered a love of railroad history and photography during these years. To better provide for his family, he worked full-time plus and completed his Bachelor's degree from Seattle University (1993) and MBA from Seattle Pacific University (1998). The stresses and strains of life ended the marriage.

In late 2001, Jim married a co-worker, which didn't last. He spent evenings and weekends renovating a custom home on acreage that overlooked Ebey Island in the small rural community of Snohomish, Wash. It was here he began beautiful woodworking and went from riding the Sears Craftsman mower to owning his first John Deere tractor! Jim loved driving his Deere and taking care of the land. On the Deere he would be seen wearing headphones and listening happily to a Mariners ball game or singing at the top of his lungs to his favorite tunes. 

Only the Lord can be credited for bringing Jim to the next chapter of his life when he met Anna Miles in October 2012. Jim said God told him Anna was going to be his wife – which he didn't tell her until much later. He would just smile and extend offers of help to care for and maintain her 46-acre farm. Jim and Anna were married seven months later at the Preston Baptist Church, just like his parents and grandparents. She joined him as Mrs. James Berg at the Snohomish home; later they sold the Marysville farm. To their union they had two sons: Hunter Berg in 2016 and Logan Berg in 2017. Sam Webb of Marysville, Wash., and Ted Fratta of Baltimore, Md. were also welcomed to the clan. Life was filled with raising the boys, homework at the dining room table, evenings and weekends filled with soccer, Scouts, YMCA summer camps, attending Mariner and AquaSox games, trips to spring training, Coulee City and Fairfield, tractor gigs and church on Sundays.

Jim recommitted his life to the Lord and serving Jesus in fall 2012. He participated in men's meetings and church life groups and invested his time and energies with the boys in service to others. Our family greatly benefitted from the godly men who spoke into Jim's life and helped him learn to love and lead this new blended family. Our family wishes to thank the pastors, staff and special friends who supported us on the journey.

Jim's plan after retiring in 2020 was to support his wife who was still working, raise the boys, continue his railroad photography, and fill in any remaining time with small tractor gigs. God had other plans. According to His timing and purpose, the Snohomish home was sold in Summer 2020 and the family and the tractors moved to Dayton, Wash. The move proved to be amazing. Jim loved all the farming activity and living in a community that embraced traditional family values. He was thrilled with the active rail service out of Seneca and would be gone for hours with Anna, when she wasn't working, or with a Northwest Railfan buddy, to chase trains and take photos from Endicott to Wallula. The family took lots of drives to explore the area including favorites like Lyons Ferry and Palouse Falls. Jim especially enjoyed working with the boys to give them new skills and build their confidence, whether it was helping neighbors with yard and landscape cleanup, mowing, or clearing snow. He was also pleased to have been part of the Just a Pool effort for Dayton.

Jim is survived by his wife, and sons Gunnar (wife Krista), Logan and Hunter Berg. He was proceeded in death by his parents, grandparents Ronald and Mabel Johnson, aunties Linnea Berg, June Hubbard, Lois Davidson, and Helen Johnson, uncle Ronald Earl Johson, cousins Wilma Totten, Steven Davidson and Scott Davidson, and his dear and special friends Mark Chavers and Dave DeCota.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Dayton family and friends at Catalyst Church, 311 South 4th Street on Sunday, July 28 at 11:30 a.m. Inurnment will be at the Preston Cemetery for west side family and friends. Friday, July 26 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests donations be made by check to the Dayton High School Alumni Association for the James Berg Memorial Scholarship. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at the Dayton School District Office, 609 S 2nd Street, Dayton, WA 99328. Funds will be awarded to graduating Dayton High School seniors pursuing a trade or engineering and aerospace.