Willard Duane Bergeron, 82, died on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at Meritcare Hospital, Thief River Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:30 PM, Monday, December 7, 2009 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Father Rick Lambert officiating. Burial will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Oklee, MN.

A Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a Wake Service at 5:00 PM.

Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the funeral service on Monday.

Willard was born on June 21, 1927 to Albert Bergeron and Laida (Fournier) in Lambert Township in Oklee, MN. Willard attended country school in Oklee. After school, he worked on the family farm until he entered the United States Army in 1945.

On November 24, 1947 Willard was united in marriage to Donna Mae Mercil at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Brooks, MN. After Willards time in the service they took over the family farm and in 1980 when they moved to the city of Oklee, he worked with city maintenance. In 2005 they moved to Thief River Falls, MN. Willard has resided at the Care Center in Thief River Falls for the past year and a half.

Willard enjoyed spending time with his family and working in his wood shop where he made flowers and chairs. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, Donna. Together they traveled to Germany, Rome, California, Florida, Arizona and every year to Nevada. He was a member of the Plummer Legion.

Willard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna; children, Harlan (Kathy) of Shell Lake, WI, Dale (Colleen) of Thief River Falls, MN, Lloyd (Lila) of St. Hilaire, MN, Mary (Paul) Lasha of Fargo, ND, Connie (Marc) Parenteau of Thornton, CO, Randy (Jody) of Crookston, MN, Jim of Thornton, CO and Todd (Melinda) of Greenbush, MN; grandchildren, Sarena (Dan) Frisk, Amy (Jody) Gezwinski, Melissa (Dave) Perron, Trisha (Jesse) Adelman, Jessica (Ryan) Diederich, Nate (Karina) Parenteau, Jennifer and Jamie Lasha, Rachel and Sarah Parenteau, Danny Burns, and Travis, Corey, Colt, Jacinda, Jacoby, Chris, Aaron, Arika, Blake, Brooke, Sebastian, Brianna, Ryan, Bailey and Bryce Bergeron; 17 Great-grandchildren; sisters, Bernadine (John) Surprenant of Mesa, AZ, Rena (Larry) LaCoursiere of Warren, MN; brother, Don (Muriel) Bergeron of Franklin, WI and many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

Willard was preceded in death by his parents; son, Duane and his wife, Melody; brother, Maurice and his wife, Shirley and great-grandson, Jacob Cooper.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com