On Sunday, June 30, 2024, Lois Marie Bergen (nee Regier) experienced a cardiac event at home and passed away suddenly and far too soon. She leaves to mourn her loving husband, Kenneth (Ken) Bergen; her four daughters and their spouses: Krista & Marty Neufeldt, Kendra & Michael Bannish, Kara & Dwayne Wieler and Kimberly & James Driedger; and her beloved Grandchildren: Brock, Luke, Kenley and Mia Neufeldt, Ross Bannish, Sarah, Ellen and Edith Wieler and Tristan and Tessa Driedger. Lois is also survived by siblings: Norman Regier, David (Helen Dowsett) Regier, Benjamin Regier, Vivian (Rodney) Dyck, Kathi Suderman, brother-in-law Fred Krause and sisters-in-law Darlene Winkleman and Donna Dutchak; and siblings-in-law: Ivan (Karen) Bergen, Melvin (Karen) Bergen, Harold (Sharon) Bergen, Ron (Carol) Bergen and Amanda (Andy) Clemis, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she treasured and loved to giggle with.
Lois was predeceased by her Father, Abraham Regier, Mother Marie Regier, Mother and Father-in-law Jake and Elma Bergen, Sister June Krause, Brother-in-Law Rodney Suderman, Great-niece Kailey Dyck and Nephew Matthew Braun.
Lois was born on October 18, 1956, in Watrous Saskatchewan to Abraham and Marie Regier, the 4th of seven children. She was raised on the family farm until 1965 when they relocated to Winnipeg when Father Abe was called to pastor the then Elmwood Bethel Mennonite Church. The Regier family moved to MacGregor in the summer of 1968 where Lois resided until the end of summer 1973 at which time she attended Grade 12 at Caronport Hight School in Saskatchewan.
Following her high school graduation, Lois was baptized by her Dad at the MacGregor Bergthaler Church on July 14, 1974 and she moved to Winnipeg that Fall, first living with a friend, then on her own. While in Winnipeg she rekindled her romance with a long-haired hippie, Ken Bergen, whom she married soon after on May 17th, 1975. The newlyweds moved to Isle des Chesne, MB in 1976 where they lived on a farmstead of Lois’ Uncle and Aunt, Jake and Martha Regier. There they welcomed their first daughter, Krista Nerrin, on June 10, 1976, three months pre-mature. Kendra Marie soon followed, kicking and screaming, on June 1, 1978. The young family relocated to Rosthern, Saskatchewan in 1979 where they welcomed their third and fourth daughters, Kara Rhea on July 12, 1981, and Kimberly Briana on April 7, 1983. They enjoyed many happy years with their young family in Rosthern until their move to Winkler, MB, in 1991, where Lois lived until her untimely passing.
In addition to being a young mother to four busy girls, Lois worked full time outside the home in finance and administration at such places as the Rosthern Medical Clinic, Rosthern CIBC, Farm Credit Canada and most recently for the Department of Manitoba Education and Training where she served in various capacities including finance and desktop publishing. Lois had an entrepreneurial spirit and assisted Ken in running several ventures in Rosthern as well as various home party businesses in Winker including Party Lite and Table Charm.
In her “spare” time, Lois enjoyed expressing her creativity. When her girls were young, she sewed most of their clothing and they would often be spotted in matching dresses singing for the congregation at Rosthern Mennonite Church, while she accompanied them on the piano in a coordinating self-made outfit. Her daughters remember the beautiful outfits their mom made for them vividly and fondly remember falling asleep to the sound of the sewing machine, as mom would work on her projects late into the night.
Lois loved to cook, bake, host and entertain. She loved to make her families’ favorite treats and filled the freezer with countless cookies and dainties for the Christmas season. She loved to out-do herself every year with how many “kinds” she baked, and always notated everyone’s’ favorites in her cookbooks – including “Dutch Villa Family Favorites,” a cookbook that Lois self-published in 1997 as a gift for her daughters. Lois also had a brief stint as a cheesecake supplier for the local Smitty’s and cooked dozens of cheesecakes, on short notice, for her daughter Kim’s wedding.
Lois loved to make everything beautiful – from her children’s clothes to her yard - planting over 400 annuals one summer at her home on Dutch Villa bay - to the interior of her home to herself; everything had to be “just so”. She enjoyed the finer things in life and told Ken she preferred to shop “without price tags” and always maintained she was “allergic” to any jewelry that was less than 18kt gold. Lois loved to decorate her home and, alongside Ken, undertook several major home renovations, including the one in progress at their home at the time of her passing.
Music was Lois’ ultimate passion. She achieved her Grade 8 certificate in piano while in high school and cut her first (and last) album at the age of 15 when she formed a trio, The People’s Choice, with friends Drene Toews and Darlene Klassen. She taught piano in her younger years, and attempted to teach her own young children, although they ultimately proved not to be her best students. Lois volunteered many hours playing piano and organ for services at Rosthern Mennonite and Winkler Grace Mennonite Churches and at countless grads, weddings and funerals. She had her fifth “baby” in 2013 when she realized her life-long dream and purchased a grand piano (subsequent to Ken’s purchase of his first Harley). Lois played the piano beautifully and often, right up to the day of her passing. Classical selections and hymns were mom’s favorite to play; her music was her gift, her meditation, her therapy, her prayer. It will be deeply missed.
Above all else, Lois was a devoted wife, mom and nana; although her deteriorating health prevented her from participating in many family gatherings and events over the years, she always wished she was with her husband, children and grandchildren. She enjoyed each and every photo and video that her children and grandchildren shared and cherished each visit, though they may have been brief and too far in between.
Lois will be remembered as beautiful, kind, loving and fun. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and joy and her riotous laughter filled any room. Even during her lowest times, she was determined to persevere. She never gave up. Her strength, beauty and resiliency will be remembered by all who truly knew her. Her music, her smile, her laughter are all gone too soon.
Thank You
The family would like to thank Lois’s family doctor, Dr. Matthew Brett who made frequent home visits to care for her over the past year and the compassionate team at the Eden Mental Health Centre who supported her during the last few weeks of her life. Our immense gratitude to Dr. Katie Martens, the Boundary Trails Emergency Room team and the Winkler and Stars Ambulance personnel who tried valiantly to save Lois’s life.
Our Family would like to express our sincere thanks for the love, kindness and gestures of the Friends and Family who phoned, texted, emailed, came to the door and brought food over the past week. And thank you to all those who could be here with us today, both in person and virtually, to celebrate our dear Wife, Mom and Nana.
Donations can be made to Winkler Bible Camp in Lois’ honor.
Lois was predeceased by her Father, Abraham Regier, Mother Marie Regier, Mother and Father-in-law Jake and Elma Bergen, Sister June Krause, Brother-in-Law Rodney Suderman, Great-niece Kailey Dyck and Nephew Matthew Braun.
Lois was born on October 18, 1956, in Watrous Saskatchewan to Abraham and Marie Regier, the 4th of seven children. She was raised on the family farm until 1965 when they relocated to Winnipeg when Father Abe was called to pastor the then Elmwood Bethel Mennonite Church. The Regier family moved to MacGregor in the summer of 1968 where Lois resided until the end of summer 1973 at which time she attended Grade 12 at Caronport Hight School in Saskatchewan.
Following her high school graduation, Lois was baptized by her Dad at the MacGregor Bergthaler Church on July 14, 1974 and she moved to Winnipeg that Fall, first living with a friend, then on her own. While in Winnipeg she rekindled her romance with a long-haired hippie, Ken Bergen, whom she married soon after on May 17th, 1975. The newlyweds moved to Isle des Chesne, MB in 1976 where they lived on a farmstead of Lois’ Uncle and Aunt, Jake and Martha Regier. There they welcomed their first daughter, Krista Nerrin, on June 10, 1976, three months pre-mature. Kendra Marie soon followed, kicking and screaming, on June 1, 1978. The young family relocated to Rosthern, Saskatchewan in 1979 where they welcomed their third and fourth daughters, Kara Rhea on July 12, 1981, and Kimberly Briana on April 7, 1983. They enjoyed many happy years with their young family in Rosthern until their move to Winkler, MB, in 1991, where Lois lived until her untimely passing.
In addition to being a young mother to four busy girls, Lois worked full time outside the home in finance and administration at such places as the Rosthern Medical Clinic, Rosthern CIBC, Farm Credit Canada and most recently for the Department of Manitoba Education and Training where she served in various capacities including finance and desktop publishing. Lois had an entrepreneurial spirit and assisted Ken in running several ventures in Rosthern as well as various home party businesses in Winker including Party Lite and Table Charm.
In her “spare” time, Lois enjoyed expressing her creativity. When her girls were young, she sewed most of their clothing and they would often be spotted in matching dresses singing for the congregation at Rosthern Mennonite Church, while she accompanied them on the piano in a coordinating self-made outfit. Her daughters remember the beautiful outfits their mom made for them vividly and fondly remember falling asleep to the sound of the sewing machine, as mom would work on her projects late into the night.
Lois loved to cook, bake, host and entertain. She loved to make her families’ favorite treats and filled the freezer with countless cookies and dainties for the Christmas season. She loved to out-do herself every year with how many “kinds” she baked, and always notated everyone’s’ favorites in her cookbooks – including “Dutch Villa Family Favorites,” a cookbook that Lois self-published in 1997 as a gift for her daughters. Lois also had a brief stint as a cheesecake supplier for the local Smitty’s and cooked dozens of cheesecakes, on short notice, for her daughter Kim’s wedding.
Lois loved to make everything beautiful – from her children’s clothes to her yard - planting over 400 annuals one summer at her home on Dutch Villa bay - to the interior of her home to herself; everything had to be “just so”. She enjoyed the finer things in life and told Ken she preferred to shop “without price tags” and always maintained she was “allergic” to any jewelry that was less than 18kt gold. Lois loved to decorate her home and, alongside Ken, undertook several major home renovations, including the one in progress at their home at the time of her passing.
Music was Lois’ ultimate passion. She achieved her Grade 8 certificate in piano while in high school and cut her first (and last) album at the age of 15 when she formed a trio, The People’s Choice, with friends Drene Toews and Darlene Klassen. She taught piano in her younger years, and attempted to teach her own young children, although they ultimately proved not to be her best students. Lois volunteered many hours playing piano and organ for services at Rosthern Mennonite and Winkler Grace Mennonite Churches and at countless grads, weddings and funerals. She had her fifth “baby” in 2013 when she realized her life-long dream and purchased a grand piano (subsequent to Ken’s purchase of his first Harley). Lois played the piano beautifully and often, right up to the day of her passing. Classical selections and hymns were mom’s favorite to play; her music was her gift, her meditation, her therapy, her prayer. It will be deeply missed.
Above all else, Lois was a devoted wife, mom and nana; although her deteriorating health prevented her from participating in many family gatherings and events over the years, she always wished she was with her husband, children and grandchildren. She enjoyed each and every photo and video that her children and grandchildren shared and cherished each visit, though they may have been brief and too far in between.
Lois will be remembered as beautiful, kind, loving and fun. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and joy and her riotous laughter filled any room. Even during her lowest times, she was determined to persevere. She never gave up. Her strength, beauty and resiliency will be remembered by all who truly knew her. Her music, her smile, her laughter are all gone too soon.
Thank You
The family would like to thank Lois’s family doctor, Dr. Matthew Brett who made frequent home visits to care for her over the past year and the compassionate team at the Eden Mental Health Centre who supported her during the last few weeks of her life. Our immense gratitude to Dr. Katie Martens, the Boundary Trails Emergency Room team and the Winkler and Stars Ambulance personnel who tried valiantly to save Lois’s life.
Our Family would like to express our sincere thanks for the love, kindness and gestures of the Friends and Family who phoned, texted, emailed, came to the door and brought food over the past week. And thank you to all those who could be here with us today, both in person and virtually, to celebrate our dear Wife, Mom and Nana.
Donations can be made to Winkler Bible Camp in Lois’ honor.