Wallace “Wally” A. Berglund, age 90 of Burnsville, Minnesota and formerly of Grand Marais, went to be with his Lord Jesus on April 11, 2016.
Wally was born in Grand Marais on December 21, 1925. He and his seven brothers and sisters lived in the area his entire childhood, mostly on a dairy farm on Maple Hill. Wally graduated from Cook County High School at the age of 17. He got his father’s permission to join the Navy and enlisted in November 1943. He began his military service in March 1944 while attending Gustavus Adolphus College. He graduated in June 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was then assigned duty in Shanghai, China as assistant legal and foreign claims officer. Throughout his life he was happy to share his military experiences.
After being honorably discharged in July 1947, Wally returned to Grand Marais to haul pulpwood and teach high school math for one year.
He stayed in teaching a few years in Mahnomen, Minnesota where he met his wife Betty. He began a lifelong career with General Motors Insurance in 1952 where he remained until he retired at age 60. Wally lived in Bloomington and Burnsville, Minnesota most of his adult life. He thoroughly enjoyed his family, home, gardening and a side career of selling late model General Motors cars which he did until the age of 85.
Wally is preceded in death by his wife Betty.
He is survived by children Kathy (John) Benner, Jeanne (Terry) Rice, Steven (Veronica) Berglund; grandchildren Allison (Brian) Bonelli, Christopher Weides ll, David Weides, Kathy (Paul) Stahler, Dan (Payton) Rice, Jamie (Jacob) Hodge, Amanda (Steven) Kyle, Lisa (Nick) Day, Steven Wallace Berglund; and 8 great-grandchildren. Wally’s memorial service was held on April 16 at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville, where he had been a long time member, on April 16. The family plans a private burial at Fort Snelling and a family gathering in Grand Marais in July.
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