Roberta “Berta” Marie Charbonneau Bearinger was Born March 26 1954, at her home in Olga, ND to Ovila and Marion Charbonneau. She was the youngest daughter of a large family that included her 22 siblings. After graduating high school, Berta attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN from 1972-1973. She worked for Father Michael O’Riley as a secretary for a year then moved back to Olga to live with her parents. She took a job as a bookkeeper at the Good Samaritan Home in Osnabrock, ND.
In 1976, she ventured to Bozeman, Montana and lived with her sister Barbara Kay and her husband David. Berta returned in 1977 to ND for a Carrier-Charbonneau family reunion. During a night out with family, on July 2, 1977, at Hanks Corner, in rural ND, she met Dave “Bear” Bearinger. They married later that year on December 3,1977 and settled in Oakes, ND. Soon after, Berta and husband moved to Turtle Lake, ND, where on September 4, 1978 they welcomed their first son, Justin.
Due to her husband’s occupation, the couple moved to various places throughout the United States. Their second son Jesse was born in Greeley, CO in 1980. One year later, their son Jaden was born in Cavalier, ND.The next 7 years they made Olga, ND their home. In 1987, Berta and her family moved to Valley City, ND. Valley City is where they raised their boys and made their home for the next 31 years.
In 1993-94 Berta went back to school at Valley City State University for her accounting degree. However, her three busy boys proved to be a handful and she decided to find part-time work instead. Over the years, Berta worked in the business office at VCSU as a secretary, bookkeeping at G. Wagner Tax Service, she helped at the After-School program, did home daycare, and lastly, she was the bookkeeper for Berger Auto. During this time her boys grew up, graduated high school, went out on their own, and eventually, even some grandchildren were born. Along with grandchildren, Berta’s “daughter” Francy (a new puppy) joined the family.
While in Valley City, you could find Berta enjoying an evening walk with her dog Francy or spoiling her granddaughters. She loved to bake cookies and was known for her famous sugar cookies. She has many fond memories of frosting sugar cookies with her 3 beautiful granddaughters and packaging them up for Grandpa to take to work in his lunchbox.
In 2012 Berta’s husband Dave retired and they decided to look for their retirement home. During this time, they traveled in their camper all over the country and visited many places together, including Graceland. They finally settled in Yankton, SD.
Berta’s favorite things in life were reading a good book, camping, playing with the grandkids, visiting with friends, and going to concerts with Bear. Her favorite vacation was going to Hawaii with her husband and good friends. Special connections and family were very important to her. With Berta’s love for baking and cooking, she was the mom or aunty who would fix a quick snack instead of making you wait for the meal. Berta had so much patience to do fun things with the nieces, nephews, and grandchildren like baking, cooking, going to garage sales, thrift store shopping. She made everything fun. She was the best Mom, Grandma, and Aunty around because she made you feel special all the time.
She is survived by her husband David Bearinger; sons: Justin (Tricia) Bearinger of Horace ND, Jesse (Jess) Bearinger of Perham MN, and Jaden Bearinger of Fergus Falls, MN; Grandchildren: Taylor, Jocelyn, Jillian, and Parker Bearinger; Vanze Bearinger, Owen Fiedler, Austin Lemon, and Landon Nash. Great grandchildren Kennedy Bearinger, Addison Heitkemp, and Cody Rettig.
She is survived by Sisters: JoAnn Braget, Mary Lou Byron, Gerri Dubourt, Francine (Orin) Soli, Pat Charbonneau, Geneva Gustafson, and Theresa Malone; Brother: Larry (Jean) Charbonneau and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by parents Ovila and Marion Charbonneau, Father/Mother-in-law Harold and Jean Bearinger, Sisters: Barbara Kay (David) Dahlen, Louise Aamot, Laurette (Melvin) Johnson, Myrtle Carrier, Elaine Carrier, Juanita (Thord) Finnson, Gloria (Bob) Bednar, Lorraine (Teddy) Beauchamp, Brothers: Wayne Charbonneau, Raymond Charbonneau, Ernest Carrier, Eli (Irene) Carrier, Donald (Evelyn) Charbonneau, Damus (Jean) Charbonneau. Several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and numerous other family members.
A Celebration of Life will be on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River. Visitation will be from 3-5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery of Park River, ND.
Everyone is invited for a time of lunch and fellowship following the service on Sunday at the Park River American Legion.
In 1976, she ventured to Bozeman, Montana and lived with her sister Barbara Kay and her husband David. Berta returned in 1977 to ND for a Carrier-Charbonneau family reunion. During a night out with family, on July 2, 1977, at Hanks Corner, in rural ND, she met Dave “Bear” Bearinger. They married later that year on December 3,1977 and settled in Oakes, ND. Soon after, Berta and husband moved to Turtle Lake, ND, where on September 4, 1978 they welcomed their first son, Justin.
Due to her husband’s occupation, the couple moved to various places throughout the United States. Their second son Jesse was born in Greeley, CO in 1980. One year later, their son Jaden was born in Cavalier, ND.The next 7 years they made Olga, ND their home. In 1987, Berta and her family moved to Valley City, ND. Valley City is where they raised their boys and made their home for the next 31 years.
In 1993-94 Berta went back to school at Valley City State University for her accounting degree. However, her three busy boys proved to be a handful and she decided to find part-time work instead. Over the years, Berta worked in the business office at VCSU as a secretary, bookkeeping at G. Wagner Tax Service, she helped at the After-School program, did home daycare, and lastly, she was the bookkeeper for Berger Auto. During this time her boys grew up, graduated high school, went out on their own, and eventually, even some grandchildren were born. Along with grandchildren, Berta’s “daughter” Francy (a new puppy) joined the family.
While in Valley City, you could find Berta enjoying an evening walk with her dog Francy or spoiling her granddaughters. She loved to bake cookies and was known for her famous sugar cookies. She has many fond memories of frosting sugar cookies with her 3 beautiful granddaughters and packaging them up for Grandpa to take to work in his lunchbox.
In 2012 Berta’s husband Dave retired and they decided to look for their retirement home. During this time, they traveled in their camper all over the country and visited many places together, including Graceland. They finally settled in Yankton, SD.
Berta’s favorite things in life were reading a good book, camping, playing with the grandkids, visiting with friends, and going to concerts with Bear. Her favorite vacation was going to Hawaii with her husband and good friends. Special connections and family were very important to her. With Berta’s love for baking and cooking, she was the mom or aunty who would fix a quick snack instead of making you wait for the meal. Berta had so much patience to do fun things with the nieces, nephews, and grandchildren like baking, cooking, going to garage sales, thrift store shopping. She made everything fun. She was the best Mom, Grandma, and Aunty around because she made you feel special all the time.
She is survived by her husband David Bearinger; sons: Justin (Tricia) Bearinger of Horace ND, Jesse (Jess) Bearinger of Perham MN, and Jaden Bearinger of Fergus Falls, MN; Grandchildren: Taylor, Jocelyn, Jillian, and Parker Bearinger; Vanze Bearinger, Owen Fiedler, Austin Lemon, and Landon Nash. Great grandchildren Kennedy Bearinger, Addison Heitkemp, and Cody Rettig.
She is survived by Sisters: JoAnn Braget, Mary Lou Byron, Gerri Dubourt, Francine (Orin) Soli, Pat Charbonneau, Geneva Gustafson, and Theresa Malone; Brother: Larry (Jean) Charbonneau and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by parents Ovila and Marion Charbonneau, Father/Mother-in-law Harold and Jean Bearinger, Sisters: Barbara Kay (David) Dahlen, Louise Aamot, Laurette (Melvin) Johnson, Myrtle Carrier, Elaine Carrier, Juanita (Thord) Finnson, Gloria (Bob) Bednar, Lorraine (Teddy) Beauchamp, Brothers: Wayne Charbonneau, Raymond Charbonneau, Ernest Carrier, Eli (Irene) Carrier, Donald (Evelyn) Charbonneau, Damus (Jean) Charbonneau. Several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and numerous other family members.
A Celebration of Life will be on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River. Visitation will be from 3-5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery of Park River, ND.
Everyone is invited for a time of lunch and fellowship following the service on Sunday at the Park River American Legion.