Ralph Berg, 98, died on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at Riverview Care Center in Crookston, MN,

Service of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, April 27, 2007 at St. Bernards Catholic Church with Monsignor Tim McGee presiding. Burial will be in St. Bernards Catholic Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service, Oklee, MN, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Ralph Roger Berg was born on September 30, 1908 in Thief Lake, MN the son of Charles "Carl" and Mathilda (Olson) Berg. He attended country school through the 8th Grade at Thief Lake.

Ralph was united in marriage to Pauline Margaret Cwikla on November 26, 1938 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN. The couple purchased a farm in 1941 between Brooks and Oklee. He worked part time for the Red Lake County ASCS and also served on the ASCS Board.

His main hobby and part time occupation was music. He led Ralph and Pollys Melody Aces Orchestra that began in the 1940s. He played accordion and she played guitar and sang. They played live on KTRF Radio. This led to a long career of playing for dances regularly through 1970, when Polly became ill. Their oldest son, Donald, was a large part of the family dance band with saxophone and trumpet playing. Their youngest son, Vernon, was drummer in the later years.

His other hobbies included deer hunting and keeping an eye on the Minnesota Twins. He liked to socialize and play cards.

Ralph is survived by two children: Don (Bonnie) Berg of Erskine, MN and Vernon (Carole) Berg of Erskine, MN; 14 grandchildren: Michelle (Mark) Jorgenson of Fergus Falls, MN, Sherri (Robbie) Christensen of Fosston, MN, Jodi (Dan) Lee of Erskine, MN, Nicole (James) Juve of Fosston, MN, Carl (Rosalynn) Berg of Park Rapids, MN, Kevin (Kelly) Berg of East Grand Forks, MN, Eric Berg of Erskine, MN, Lisa (James) Mitchell of Denver, CO, Lynn Berg of Denver, CO, Janelle (Juan) Christian of Miami, FL, Kimberly (Donald) Otos of Bismarck, ND, Pauline Berg of Minneapolis, MN, Alexander Berg, currently stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, and Roxanne Berg of Moorhead, MN; 13 great grandchildren; one sister, Julia Ebenritter of Seattle, WA; daughter-in-law, Judy Froemke of Fargo, ND; sister-in-law, Tillie Berg of Middle River, MN; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline, in 1974; one son, Roger, in 1982; four brothers: Art, Ernest, Ted and Richard; and three sisters, Irene Peters and Esther Morris and Edith in infancy.