Irene V (Crawford) Bergstrom Gerner

Irene Crawford Bergstrom Gerner, at age 86, passed away at Peace Hospice in Great Falls on May 17, 2013. A memorial service in her honor will be held at Sunburst Lutheran Church on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 1 p.m. This will be followed by a graveside service in the Sunburst Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Irene was born November 19, 1926 to Laurence and Goul Crawford in Choteau, Montana. She went to grade school at Strauss School east of Brady and graduated from Conrad High School in 1945. Irene worked in the telephone office in Conrad; then went on to Concordia College in Morehead, Minnesota.   She entered the Deaconess School of Nursing in Great Falls and completed the four year course with Bozeman College. She practiced nursing in Greenwich, Connecticut and the University Hospital in San Francisco. Irene returned to nurse at the Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls.  She met and married Bob Bergstrom on February 11, 1961 at Golden West Church east of Conrad.  They lived on a farm southeast of Sweet Grass.  Bob passed away on February 2, 1972. Irene married Charles Gerner on January 25, 1986.  He passed away March 13, 2003.

Family surviving is as follows:  Roger Bergstrom of Whitefish, Randy and Patricia Bergstrom of Phoenix, AZ, Karen Bergstrom of Sweet Grass, Dennis and Bev Bergstrom of Valley Forge, WA, Sheila Sorenson of Great Falls, and Anita and John Wilson of Wolf Creek.  Irene is also survived by her brother, Elmer (Pam) Crawford and nieces Linda Crawford and Penny (Andy) Jariabka. The grandchildren are: Brita Bergstrom, Danika Bergstrom, Kristin Bergstrom, Stacy and John Marinoccio, Shane and Jenita Sorenson, Brian and DeeAnne Barnes, Kirk and Janette Barnes, Derek and Victoria Bergstrom, Jami Bergstrom, Chris Herbert, and Charles Davies.  The great-grandchildren are: Cody Barnes, Colter Barnes, Daniel Barnes, Sarah Barnes, Charles Barnes, Bethany Bergstrom, Micheala Marinaccio, Luca Marinacio, and Steven Sorenson.  She loved all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren equally.

Irene was an adventurous woman who loved to volunteer at church, make quilts to send overseas, and volunteer at the hospital gift shop.  She will be remembered as an excellent example of a Christian woman who loved God, and always put others above herself.