Larry Irving Bergum, Obituary

Date of Birth:  Friday, December 10th, 1943

Date of Death:  Wednesday, January 20th, 2016

Obituary:BERGUM
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Larry Bergum; husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. Larry was born in Killam, Alberta on December 10, 1943. He married Doreen Dumont of Sundre on October 8, 1965, and was blessed to have celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary together. From the age of 17, he worked in the oil industry for 47 years until his retirement in 2007. He spent his retirement volunteering along with Doreen with the Sons of Norway in Olds, and the Metis Nation of Alberta. His favorite sport was senior’s slow pitch and he participated in the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah for the past 13 years. Larry and Doreen enjoyed square dancing and jigging with the Calgary Star Dancers and participated in several Calgary Stampede Parades. Most recently he was employed as a Commissionaire for the RCMP and he took great pride in this position. On January 20, 2016 at the age of 72 years, he went to join his mother (Bess Bergum), father (Irving Bergum), brother (Ted Bergum), nephew (Cody Parsons) and countless other family and friends in heaven. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Doreen Bergum (nee Dumont); daughter Karla Jones and her children, Faith and Keagan; son Kyle and his children Kayman and Chanis; siblings, Ken (Marge) Bergum, Barb Hopkin (Grant Berg), Julie (Dan) Bradshaw as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He will be greatly missed but lives on forever in our hearts and memories. Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday January 27, 2016 at 11 am at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Olds. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #105 (Olds) Poppy Fund. Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. 403-507-8610 www.heartlandfuneralserivces.com
Sunrise and Coffee
How do you summarize in mere words the impact a person has on the world the lives of others and your life. There are many things in life that my Dad and I disagreed about and lightyears of differences of opinion on many topics. Irregardless I walked the last part of the journey with Dad and ultimately we found peace together.
When I was very young Dad worked in the Arctic for Imperial Oil, ESSO on man made islands exploring for oil. I would hear stories about frightening air plane rides and polar bear invading camp looking for easy food as in an unobservant driller. I remember seeing a certificate which was awarded for flying above the arctic circle. The names of towns like Tuck. There were some accidents I remember Dad at home with crutches and a cast and then some fall off of the drilling rig derek injuring his back. I don’t remember that one but suspect it had something to do with Dad’s career change, he became a mud man. I was fortunate enough to share a few of the trips to the rigs. We’d leave very early and get a coffee and watch the sunrise in the wind shield. I’d watch as Dad miraculously would turn drilling sump water back into drinkable water. At the end of the process he’d put a fish in the water and occasionally we’d have a drink. On those trips I learned about sour gas and drilling sites that were not safe for tenacious boys such as myself. I grew up thinking that oil and gas was about food as more often than not I’d spend several hours in the cookhouse at camp eating steak and eggs.
Dad was a brilliant people person, my mom always told me that Dad had a gift he could make anyone feel special. Dad was well known in the oil and gas circles of Alberta spending another part of his career selling service rig time for Al Patterson. I think Al was a big influence in Dad’s life. There were many names sadly many I can’t remember but Al and Mr Schneider stuck. Dad had a long time very close personal friend Lyle who we spent a lot of time with and Mom and Dad also spent much more time with. Sadly Lyle died unexpectedly after a trip to Russia.  Even in retirement Dad worked at the RCMP working with people.
Baseball was one of Dad’s passion his whole life. If I recall correctly I think he played on a farm club for one of the teams from the majors. I’m not sure but I do remember going to lots and lots of baseball games. Its where I learned to tie my shoes. My mom locked me in the car until I figured it out. I loved to go and retrieve the balls that were hit out of the field. Baseball was something that was with Dad till the end.
Dad golfed, not particularly well I think. I’d caddy my favourite part was trying to find the lost balls. It was always part of going to Sedgwick to see grandpa and grandma. Or the stories when there was an elk or a bear on the course.
Dad had many names. I remember Dunker from when Dad and I volunteer with the Calgary Canucks who Cecil Parkie coached. Dad was the trainer I was the stick boy. He could have picked that name up earlier when we volunteered with the Bantam Bruins as well. Dad liked to dunk stuff in his coffee. We called Dad LarryioBergetti the man could drive but. In the country on the highway no matter what the weather you knew you’d always make it through. I remember blizzards in the middle of now where where the snow was blowing so hard I couldn’t see anything, Driving to the Bergum’s or the Dumont’s for christmas was always memorable. In the city however the man freaked me out. My blood pressure was always off the charts you’d think you were in a fighter plane. I really think the city frustrated Dad.
Dad loved to work. I like to think that’s where my work ethic comes from, I to love to work. I asked my Mom once a long time ago how Dad showed affection, he replay, “work”. Many summers I remember digging fence post holes, building fences or painting them and “the deck”. One time Dad and I were caught outside the house the hale coming down so hard and so big we couldn’t get in the house.
Its amazing the imprint the impact someone has on your life. There are so many things I will remember. There are so many things I’ve learned. I can tell you that during my life having a coffee or better yet having a coffee in the car watching an Alberta sunrise will always remind me of Dad.   I love you and will miss you.