Steve Bergson

Peacefully, Steve Bergson of Portage la Prairie passed away on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at Portage District General Hospital at the age of 82 years.

He is lovingly remembered by his life partner of 61 years, Joyce, son Perry (Maria) of Brandon, daughter Cheryl (Kirk Cantley, and grandchildren Tait (Courtney) and Shea) of Winnipeg and son Garry (grandchildren Lexie and Madison) of Portage la Prairie, plus siblings Roy (Carol), Margaret (Gerry Barron), and Gwen Lanoway, sister-in-law Lorrie, sister-in-law Marge Mayor, along with numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his parents Archie and Myrtle of Amaranth, siblings Harry (Evelyn), Joe, Einar (Elsie) and Danny, brother-in-law Russell Lanoway, nephew Kevin and niece Noreen Mozdzen. 

Steve was born in St. Boniface in November 1941 but grew up near Amaranth on the family farm near the shores of Lake Manitoba. He was the fifth of eight kids, and had many tales to tell about his idyllic existence helping his father out on the lake when he was commercial fishing and working around the farm.

Sports always played a huge role in his life, with many of this born story-teller's favourite yarns involving his opportunity to suit up with the Liefur baseball team with older brother Einar and the local hockey team, the Amaranth Falcons. At times, a kindly local Mountie loaded them up in the back of his vehicle and drove them to hockey games in nearby towns when they couldn't catch a ride.

He moved to Portage in 1961 and spent 15 years playing in the Central Manitoba Fastball League. After he turned 50, he was able to join the Portage and District Liniment League with the Wintergreens, entering a second chapter of his sporting career for 22 years. He met wife Joyce when the new school teacher was taken to the Bergson farm to meet the handsome young farm kid who had just moved to the big city. They were married in 1963.

After moving to Portage, Steve found work at the Manitoba School, which later became the Manitoba Developmental Centre. He took the psychiatric nursing course, and quickly developed a deep love for working with people with intellectual disabilities. Within years, he was teaching the course — and after a seven-year interlude driving to Winnipeg to work as a systems analyst for the provincial government — he returned to the MDC to work as assistant administrator and eventually the administrator.

The last move was possible when he became the first person in the extended Bergson family to earn a university degree, which came in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota in 1983.

He retired in 1996 and was able to enjoy a long retirement with Joyce travelling, watching sports, doting on his grandkids, golfing, doing intricate woodwork on sports figurines and puttering around the yard.

He was a firm believer in the concept of paying it forward, and spent a lifetime volunteering in hockey, baseball, at Trinity Church and a host of other places. If there was a blizzard, after he blew out his own driveway, he had other driveways he cleared for people he knew couldn't.

He was named the Manitoba Sports Foundation's outstanding volunteer in 1980, and in 2012, was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in the all-around category for his contributions to the sport on and off the diamond.

The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses at Portage District General Hospital who looked after him so kindly in his final days.

A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at Trinity United Church in Portage la Prairie on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 1 p.m., interment will take place at Evergreen Memorial Gardens Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Steve's memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 1379 Kenaston Boulevard Winnipeg, MB R3P 2T5 or the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba 40 Royal Road North, Portage la Prairie MB R1N 1V1. 

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com