Obituary of Wallace Martin Bergman

Passed away On Dec.26, 2011 Rev. Wallace Martin Bergman was born to Fred & Frances June 2, 1933 in Gimli, Manitoba. He was brought up surrounded by the Canadian Icelandic culture of the Lakes district, including pastimes of hockey and curling. While in High School, he met the love of his life, Helen and they were married in 1954. While attending university in Manitoba, he felt the call of God to attend the Lutheran Seminary in St.Paul, Minnesota and received the Master of Divinity in 1958. While there, he ministered in his first pastorate in Minneota, Minnesota. First daughter Karen was born in 1958. Their first Canadian pastorate was at St.Paul’s in Selkirk, Manitoba from 1960 to 1966 where second daughter Susan was born. Wally & Helen felt the call to “Go West” and so their next pastorate was at Our Saviour’s in Calgary, and then moved on to Victoria. While living in Victoria, after their second daughter was seriously injured in an accident, God gave them a third dauhter, Brenda! And then came a call to a ministry in Maple Ridge at St.Paul’s. After 23 faithful years as pastor there and 35 years in the ministry, he retired to White Rock to enjoy golf, lawn bowling, and travel. An avid sports nut and even more avid reader, Wally enjoyed music and his Icelandic culture. He was predeceased by his life partner Helen in 1991, sister Helene in 2006, and daughter Susan in 2006. He will be sadly missed by brothers Fred (Eileen) and Claude (Iris), brother-in-law Ron, daughter Karen, (and Dale) from Kamloops and daughter Brenda, (and Steve) from Chilliwack; as well as 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran, 12145 Laity Street in Maple Ridge on Saturday, December 31 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St.Paul’s Lutheran’s memorial fund.