Richard Allen Bergstrom

Richard Allen Bergstrom, 77, passed away August 17, 2024, after a 15-month battle with lung cancer, with his family and caregivers by his side. He was born January 26, 1947, to Vernon and Mary Bergstrom in Minneapolis, MN. He married Karen Sundlin and together they shared a daughter, Teresa Sundlin. In 1968, he married Kathryn “Kay” Finlan and then had daughters Yvette and Rachael.

Richard worked at Harneschfeger in Escanaba until it closed. He tended bar at P & H Rod and Gun Club. He returned to Minneapolis and worked at Seeyle doing metal fabrication and he belonged to the International Union of Painters and Plumbers where he set up many trade shows at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Richard enjoyed iced coffee, camping, bird hunting, bow and arrow shooting, and fishing. He had a great love for music of all kinds and attended many concerts (“dragged” by daughter Yvette) including Bruce Springsteen, Prince, The Eagles, Frankie Valli, Tony Bennett, Huey Lewis & the News, Lady Gaga and Bob Seger. Teresa and Rachael were also willing participants in the concert-going! He was a smart, complicated, animal and technology loving, snarky, deliberate man. He loved music, was always late, and loved technology. Richard was a deliberate and sometimes snarky man and we will miss his sense of humor.

Richard is survived by his daughters: Teresa, Yvette (Martin) Sanpaka, and Rachael (David) Johnson; grandchildren: Shawn, Heather, Stennen, Rhiannon, Courtney, Saul, Jessa, Vikki, Brittany and Jodi; great grandchildren: Ryder, Amelia, Kennedy, Robin, Harley, Phoebe, Ashton, Easton, Landon, Bentley, Aubree and Zariah. He is further survived by his sister Leah (Steve) Marty, brother-in-law Roger Moran, sister-in-law Audrey Bergstrom, many nieces, nephews, cousins and his best buddy, his dog Odie.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Howard and Phillip Bergstrom, sisters Marilyn Brazil and Carol Moran, nephew Phillip Bergstrom, as well as his companion dogs Cody, Boone and Dakota.

Yvette would like to thank his caregivers from Heart to Heart In Home Care-Tiffany Lopez (and her special daughter Mitzi), Rhonda, Karen, Dianne, Dorothy, Jessica, Natajia and Alexia. To the team from ThedaCare Brittany, Lexi and Dr Bryan Roberts and MA Sherry Olson-thank you for the wonderful care at the time of Rich’s diagnosis-what a team!

Mitzi says: “You Won!!”