Dorothy Virginia Berg

Dorothy Virginia Berg was born on June 4, 1926 to Axel and Anna (Johnson) Helstrom in Spokane, WA. She was confirmed in 1940 at First Covenant Church. After her graduation from West Valley High School in 1944, Dorothy went on to receive her RN at Deaconess Hospital in 1947. She worked as a Cadet Nurse in Seattle at the U.S. Public Health Hospital. It was during this time that she was a “USO Gal”, boosting morale and comforting the soldiers during WWII, and also earning extra income at Boeing, bucking rivets inside the wings of B-17’s as an original “Rosie the Riveter.” Dorothy married Andrew S. Thomas in Reno, NV on 1950 and together they had three children; Kathleen, Mark, and Carol. He started Whatcom Radiator Repair, which they ran until he passed away unexpectedly in 1964. Four years later, Dorothy married Alf R. Berg. After his retirement, he and Dorothy spent their winters in Desert Hot Springs and eventually bought a house with no wheels. During this time, Dorothy started painting with watercolors and became quite accomplished, winning several awards for her pieces. She was actively involved in the Christian Woman’s Club of America, becoming the chairwoman of the Bellingham chapter in 1964. Both Andy and Alf were avid fishermen, Dorothy soon showed them, however, who was best at it. Some great accomplishments in Dorothy’s life were being the first woman graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course of Public Speaking and Human Relations in 1958, her membership of the Spa City Palleteers Art Association of Desert Hot Springs, and that she kept her RN license in good standing until 1991. Dorothy is survived by her children, Kathleen Barrett, Mark Thomas, and Carol (John) Champoux-Gaston; stepdaughter, Debra Dicosal of Redmond, WA; sister-in-law, Margaret Thomas of Seattle; granddaughter Ann Marie Loeuy; great-granddaughter Katauna Loeuy; and great-grandsons, Kobe and Kyson Butma; and nieces and nephews, Bob (Yvonne) Helstrom, Richard (Susan) Helstrom, Karen (Dalton) Young, Becky (Ken) Hart, Betty Towner, Herb (Jeane) Helstrom, Jerry Riley, and Tom Riley. A funeral service will be held at Bellingham Covenant Church (1530 E Bakerview Rd) on Monday, December 7th, 2015 at 1:30PM followed by a reception. Memorial donation may be made in Dorothy’s name to Bellingham Covenant Church. Please share your thoughts and memories at wordpress-271002-1416095.cloudwaysapps.com

Dorothy Virginia Berg

June 4, 1926 - November 25, 2015