Robert Duane Bergsten

Hastings resident, Robert Duane Bergsten, 88, passed away Monday, October 29, 2012 at Perkins Pavilion, Good Samaritan Society, Hastings -Village. Memorial service will be on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the First St. Pauls Lutheran Church, in Hastings, NE with Rev. Joel Remmers officiating. Private family burial will take place in the Minden Cemetery, Minden, Nebraska. Book signing will be Thursday, November 1, 2012 from 9 am to 4 pm at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, NE and one hour prior to service time at the church. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First St. Paul Lutheran Church or Good Samaritan Society Hastings Village. Duane was born October 31, 1923 in Norman, Nebraska, the eldest of three children born to Philip and Iva (Shogren) Bergsten. After graduating from Norman High School, he farmed with his father. Duane was inducted into the United States Navy on April 6, 1945. He was assigned to a construction battalion in the Seabees. Duane had taken a typing class in high school. Because of that, he felt lucky to be assigned the company clerk position. His battalion was sent to the Admiralty Islands in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged on June 27, 1946. Duane returned to the farm. On March 21, 1948, he married Lela M. Reed. To this union two children were born: Gary and Rodney. The couple purchased their own farm. They raised corn, wheat, alfalfa, cows and hogs together for 43 years. After retiring in 1991, they moved to Hastings. He became a member of First St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hastings, Nebraska. Just for fun, Duane worked for seven years at A & N Molding & Plastics before completely retiring. Lela passed away on June 21, 2012 in Hastings. A very social man, Duane loved visiting with his neighbors. He assisted Lela with her garden and orchard. Duane was the typical can fix anything farmer. Duane moved to Good Samaritan Society Hastings Villages Perkins Pavilion in October of 2009. The staff lovingly cared for him as his health declined. He is survived by his son, Gary Bergsten and wife Jeanne of Holdrege; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Bergsten, of Hickman, Nebraska; two grand-daughters, Jenice Bergstrom and husband Brian, Lacy Best and husband, Zack; three grandsons, John Bergsten and wife Sarah, James Bergsten and wife Emily, Jeff Bergsten and wife Aimee; four great-granddaughters and four great-grandsons; sister, Phyllis Gaston; brother, Fred Bergsten and wife Alicia; sister-in-law Bonnie Harper and husband Mel; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lela; his parents; his son, Rodney Bergsten; sister-in-law, June Jorgensen and husband Wilbur; and brother-in-law, Gale Reed.