Sophia M. Bergen

Sutton resident Sophia M. Bergen, 98, died Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton, NE. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 10, 2014, at the Federated Church in Sutton, NE with Rev. Harry Cross officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton, NE. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., with the family present from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, NE. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Federated Church, Sutton Community home, or the Sutton Community Foundation. Sophia was born to Henry P. and Mary (Janzen) Friesen on March 26, 1916, in the family home outside of Henderson, NE. She attended country school until she was 12, then town school and high school in Henderson, NE. She was baptized into the Henderson Mennonite Congregation by the Rev. A.W. Friesen in 1937. After attending a school of cosmetology, she worked in the "Curly Top Beauty Shop" in Henderson; at that time a woman's haircut cost $1.50. In 1940, she married Henry "Colonel" Bergen, also of Henderson, and in 1945 they relocated to Sutton. Sophia and Colonel were married 58 years until his death in 1999. Sophia was a stay-at-home mom who enjoyed sewing, painting, gardening, fishing, and following the activities of her children and grandchildren. She was an attentive basketball fan when grandchildren were involved, keeping a running tally of fouls and scoring throughout each game. For many years she and Colonel participated in a local marathon bridge group, she being more orthodox in her bidding than him. During her decades in Sutton she delighted in meeting with other moms for coffee and chat at 10 a.m. She was a faithful member of the Federated Church, the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and a loyal friend to many in the community. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Eugene Bergen and his wife Lu; son, Bill (Paula) Bergen of Sutton, NE; grandchildren, Jed (Heidi) Bergen of Sutton, NE; Kim (Jason) Cooper of Hickman, NE; son, Max (Julie) Bergen of Sutton, NE; grandchildren, Mitch (Carrie) Bergen, Jacob Bergen and Claire Bergen all of Lincoln, NE; daughter, Wanda (Jim) Hartley of Frederick, MD; grandchildren, Anne (Jeff) Rastatter of Chicago, IL; David Hartley of Philadelphia, PA; six great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Jesse Bergen; Jack and Avery Cooper and Nicholas and Gemma Rastatter. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, P.C. Friesen; brothers, Fred (Tena) Friesen; Walter (Tillie) Friesen; and Reuben Friesen; sisters, Lucie (Ben) Beier; and Nellie (Walter) Urban; step-sisters, Selma (John R.) Friesen; and Ada (Abe) Peters; step-brother, Waldo (Margaret) Friesen; and her husband's siblings Anna (Irwin) Friesen; Ike (Virginia) Bergen; Harley (Evelyn) Bergen; and Mary (Ben) Ediger.

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Sophia M. Bergen

March 26, 1916 - April 5, 2014