OBITUARY: Vivian Bergen

Vivian Grace Bergen was born August 17, 1921, in Shafter. She was the second of four children born to Zacharias and Ida Bartel.

Vivian attended local schools and graduated from Shafter High in 1939. She continued her general education at Bakersfield College, and then onto Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, where she studied nursing for the next 3 years. On Sept. 29, 1944, she married Jake Fred Bergen at the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church, just days before he shipped out to the Philippines during WWII. Vivian had a great sense of humor, and she enjoyed games and jigsaw puzzles. She also liked to travel, especially trips to the beach.

After losing her husband in 1986, Vivian often had a soft spot in her heart for newly widowed women. She would make time to check in with ladies, and also arranged canasta games so that they would have a group who could share together.

Vivian was a longtime member of the Kern County Model T Club, and a member of the Shafter Women's Club. She was blessed with a long, healthy life and will be dearly missed.

Vivian was preceded in death by her husband, Jake Fred Bergen, as well as her parent, and three siblings. She is survived by her children, Gail and husband Don Loveless, Peggy and husband Glenn Harden of South Dakota, and Kelly Bergen and wife Liah; grandchildren Greg and Shelly Loveless, Jill and Patrick Toews, Kerry and Jeff Hauser, Eli Harden, Seth and Jessica Harden, Timbrel and Paul Eunson, Josh Harden, Amy Bergen, Paul Bergen and KaeLum Bergen; along with 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at Shafter Memorial Park on Friday, June 5, beginning at 10 a.m.

A memorial service will follow at the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church beginning at 11 a.m. Online condolences available at PetersFuneralHomes.com.