Nellie Berggren

Nellie Berggren, Pioneer Woman of This County, Dies

Nellie Berggren, 89 years of age, passed peacefully away at the home of Mrs. Mabel Lawler, where she has been cared for this winter, on Friday evening, February 18, at about 8:00 o'clock.

Mrs. Berggren is thought to have been the oldest pioneer woman still living in the county, having come here with her husband in 1885.

Nellie Berggren was born at Jevle, Sweden, January 1, 1860, the daughter of Olaf and Anna Berggren.

The family came to the United States when she was in her girlhood and located for a time in Illinois, later moving to Nevada where she was married to Louis Berggren.

In 1885 they moved to the territory of Wyoming, coming here by stagecoach and located northeast of the present town of Lusk, but at that time the town was located about a mile and a half west and was known as Silver Cliff and in those days the creek was called the "Running Water".

Mrs. Berggren knew all the hardships and trials of those who settled and made a home and raised a family in a pioneer country and they lived here the remainder of their lives. Mr. Berggren passed away in 1935 and two daughters Esther and Louise died in infancy.

3 CHILDREN SURVIVE

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Olive Stewart of Lusk and Mrs. Inez Gorsuch of Philadelphia, and one son, John Berggren of Lusk and 10 grandchildren.

Mrs. Berggren continued to live on the home ranch until her son, John, built a new home just north of Lusk some years ago and he also built a home for his mother at the new location where she continued to live until last fall when she was moved to town because of her failing health.

Mrs. Berggren was confirmed and baptised in the Lutheran Church in her native land of Sweden and was a member of that faith throughout her lifetime.

Funeral services were conducted from the Peet Chapel Sunday afternoon at 2:30 with the Rev. F.C. Doctor of St Paul's Lutheran Church of Lusk officiating.

The songs "In the Garden" and "Now Day is Done" were sung by a quartet composed of Mrs. A. F. DeCastro, Mrs. H. J. Templeton, Donley Unruh and Rex Yocum with Mrs. J. P. Watson as the accompanist.

The casket bearers were Roy Turnbull, Z.B. Crinklaw, Hans Gautschi, Al Rundquist, Arthur Thompson and Ralph Olinger.

Burial was made in the family plot in the Lusk Cemetery.

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