Bergen I. Bull

Published 10:12 am Monday, May 20, 2024

Bergen I. Bull

February 28, 1940 – January 31, 2024

Bergen I. Bull passed away on January 31, 2024, in Bend, Oregon. Bergen was with Jan (Blachford), his wife of 62 years, and his pastor at the time of his peaceful passing. Son of W. Ira and Thelma Bull, Bergen was born in February 1940, in Lansing, Michigan. He was raised in East Lansing, Michigan, and educated in the East Lansing School System. He played center on East Lansing High School’s 1958 undefeated football team. He also became an accomplished musician and singer in his youth, a passion that would follow him throughout his life.

After high school, from 1958-1962, Bergen earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Michigan State University. There he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and met his soulmate, Jan (Blachford), his future wife during his junior year. They were married in East Lansing in 1961.

While at MSU, Bergen enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program which required a subsequent three-year commitment in the United States Air Force. Upon graduation from MSU, he and his wife moved to the Sewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee, where he served as a lieutenant from 1963-1965. While in Tennessee, his son, Damon, and daughter, Lauren, were born. In his spare time, Bergen obtained a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State.

Upon honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1965, Bergen and Jan moved their young family to the Portland metro area. They settled in Beaverton and Bergen began a career with the Hyster Company in the accounting department. He enrolled in night school in 1965 at the Northwestern School of Law, now The Lewis & Clark School of Law, and graduated in 1969 with Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree. He then earned the position of In-House Corporate Council. During his 30-year tenure with Hyster, he would also earn promotions to Corporate Secretary and, at the time of his retirement, was Corporate Vice President of Human Resources. He retired from Hyster in 2015.

After retirement, Bergen and Jan sold the family home in Beaverton and moved to Sunriver, Oregon, where fly fishing, skiing, hiking, and golf were right outside their back door. Both he and Jan volunteered much of their time in their new community. Because of his love of music, Bergen served as President of the Sunriver Music for three years and remained on its Board of Directors for many years. He was also President of the Sunriver Nature Center, an integral part of the Sunriver community, helping to enhance the Oregon Observatory with an amazing array of telescopes to explore the night skies in Sunriver’s ‘Dark Sky’ environment. Bergen was a member of Sunriver Christian Fellowship and represented SCF on the Diocesan Counsel of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon and sang in the church choir for many years.

Even with his commitments to the Sunriver Community, there was always time to travel. His travels included trips to England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, China, Singapore and Russia, and SCUBA dives in the Galapagos Islands, the Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize and many Caribbean Islands.

What a life!

Bergen is survived by Jan, his wife of 62 years; his son, Damon; his daughter, Lauren; his daughter-in-law, Kim (Hahn); two cherished grandchildren, Chelsea and Parker; and many nieces and nephews. He was a wonderful, brilliant, loving, kind and giving man.

He is missed.

In Bergen’s memory, the family requests you to please consider donating in his name to the Sunriver Music Festival Young Artist Scholarship Program (YAS, https://sunrivermusic.org/education-scholarships/) or the Sunriver Christian Fellowship Partners in Education Scholarship Program (https://sunriverchristianfellowship.org/partnership-in-education-scholarships/; click on the Giving button up in the right top, choose Other and then specify Partnership in Education Scholarships in the What is your donation for box).

A memorial will be held June 29 at 11:30am at the Sunriver Christian Fellowship Church (www.sunriverchristianfellowship.org). Lunch will follow the memorial. Email questions or comments to bergenmemorial@thebulls.net.