Roland "Ron" Berger went home to be with the Lord December 26, 2022, surrounded by family at the Lippold Hospice Unit, Sturgis, South Dakota.

Ron was born July 15, 1942, to Fred and Elizabeth Berger in Sturgis, SD. He grew up in Whitewood Valley going to school at Big Bottom, Bench, and Sturgis High School. As a teenager he was involved in 4-H with his projects of caring for lambs and sheep, helping neighbors, milking cows, and helping his dad on the ranch. He also spent time working at the sugar beet factory in Belle Fourche until 1964.

On March 27, 1964, Ron married Mary Ann Loup, and to this union three children were born; two sons, Paul and Keith, and one daughter, Rhonda. In May of 1965 they packed up and took the family to Alaska, where he worked on a dairy farm at Palmer, AK. They moved to Anchorage in September where Ron worked at Overhead Door Co. May of 1966 saw the family returning to South Dakota and Ron working at Overhead Door in Rapid City, where he stayed until moving back to the farm in 1987. He remained working there, doing what he loved and enjoyed where he had grown up. He never fully retired until his son, Keith, came back and even then, they worked together until the time of his death.

Ron was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Whitewood, where he served as an Elder. He also served on the board of the Whitewood Cemetery. He enjoyed his neighbors and friends, and coffee time with Larry and Ann Kymala. His favorite time of year was haying season when he could start cutting into a hayfield; raking, baling, and spending time working with his son, Keith. Ron enjoyed a good day fishing, whether it was at Pierre, Fort Peck, or the Columbia River. He and Mary also enjoyed day trips to see the four-state area and be home by night.

Ron is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary; sons, Paul (Kate) of Pierre, Keith of Whitewood; daughter, Rhonda (Dave) Cutts of Sturgis; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Elizabeth; brother, Donald; half-sister, Irene Ostwald; half-brother, Bucky Courtney; and grandson, Evan Berger.

In Lieu of flowers memorials have been established to the First Presbyterian Church of Whitewood, the Whitewood Cemetery, and the Lippold Hospice Care Unit.

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