Rita Darlene Carrison Berge

Rita Darlene Carrison Berge, age 85, died Sunday, April 27, 2025, peacefully at her home in Forest Lake, MN. Rita was born on March 28, 1940, in Fergus Falls, MN, to Robert Leslie and Martha Inga (Moe) Carrison. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1958, was the Otters homecoming queen and a National Honor Society member. Rita furthered her education at Valley City State Teachers College in North Dakota, Lakewood Community College in MN and the University of MN.

In 1960, Rita married her high school sweetheart, Lewie Berge, and moved to Northfield, MN while Lewie finished his studies at St. Olaf College. Her first daughter, Carrie, was born in Northfield in 1961. The following fall, they moved into married student housing on the St. Paul campus while Lewie attended dental school at the U of MN. Their second child, Mary, was born in 1963. In 1965 the family was sent to Orleans, France while Captain Lewie served in the Army at the 34th General Hospital. Rita took French lessons from a university teacher in Paris while the kids attended a French Montessori school until they moved to an Army base with a school. In 1967, French president de Gaulle, withdrew French military support for NATO, and removed all foreign bases from French soil.

Subsequently, the family was relocated to Burtonwood Army base in Warrington, England. In the fall of 1968 they returned to Minnesota, ultimately, they settled in Scandia for 49 years. Rita and Lewie moved to Forest Lake in December 2023.

Rita loved nature, being outdoors, learning and teaching others. She enjoyed mushrooming, cross country and alpine skiing, hiking, canoeing, and traveling.

In 1996, she completed the University of MN Master Gardener program and went on to provide over 15 years of service to Washington County through the U of MN extension program. She also served for several years as a trail guide at Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center in Marine on Saint Croix.

Rita helped to start a women's investment club called Delusions of Grandeur Society (DOGS). She was an active member of Faith Lutheran in Forest Lake, MN, where she was involved in the bell choir, quilting group, wild game dinners, and mission trips to Ecuador, Central America and Tanzania.

She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Dale, Darrell, Frank, Charles and Robert; and sisters, Muriel, Sylvia, Donna and Beverly.

Rita is survived by her husband Lewie; children, Carrie Berge and Mary (Brent) Albertson; grandchildren, Beth Albertson and Jake Albertson; sisters, Marti (Joe) Fuccy and Lois Appleget; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at Faith Lutheran Church, 886 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Family will be greeting friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial at the Memorial Prayer Garden following the service.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made out to the Faith Lutheran Church Bell Choir.