Delphine Genevieve (Isaacson) Bergstrom was born December
20, 1915 to Gideon (Gene) and Jenny Isaacson. This Swedish girl got her name
from a French friend of her mothers. She was born in Minneapolis and moved at
18 months to Stockholm, MN. At age 14 her family moved north of Cokato.
Delphine and Rodney were lab partners and read their graduation speeches
together. They graduated from Cokato High School with the class of 1934 and
later began dating. Following graduation Delphine attended St. Cloud Teachers college.
She taught in Annandale, MN until she married Rodney on March 8, 1941 at Elim
Mission Church Cokato, MN. During their marriage they lived in Winona,
Brainerd, Fargo and Cokato. She was a life long teacher. She worked at Cokato
Elementary as a substitute teacher and teacher assistant until she was 70 years
old.
Delphine enjoyed cooking, sewing, flower gardening, spending
time with family, fishing, putting her feet in the water at the lake and was an
avid reader. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Delphine witnessed many changes throughout her life. She was
born in WWI, during horse and buggy time, and the early development of flight.
Delphine passed away on June 13, 2011 at the Cokato Manor.
She reached the age of 95 years, 5 months, and 24 days.
Delphine is survived by her children, Richard Bergstrom,
Mary Jean Ortquist, Sue (Mike) Winge and Lynda (Randy) Johnson all of Cokato;
grandchildren Tresha (Damon) Melquist, Jennah (Jeremiah) Verhey, Jordan
Ortquist, Elizabeth (Josh) Kloos, Laura (Mark) Gabrielson, Annalicia (Phil)
Niemla, Grant Johnson; great grandchildren Kenzie, Kylie, and Kasey Melquist,
Jenavieve, Jasper, and Jorjah Verhey, Hayen and Vivian Kloos, and Cole Cochran.
Delphine was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister
Marjorie Moangen and son-in-law David Ortquist.
Memorial Service: Saturday, June 18, 2011, 11:30 AM at the First Baptist Church of Cokato. Visitation 2 hrs prior to service at church.