Longtime Silverton resident Keith A. Berg, Sr. passed away comfortably, surrounded by his loving family at his home on Feb. 13, 2014. He was 90 years old.
His compassion for others, kindly manner and keen sense of humor will be missed.
Born in Clear Lake, Wash. on March 24, 1923, he moved to Silverton when he was just a year old. He graduated from Silverton High School in 1941.
Upon graduation, Keith enlisted in the United States Navy where he served on the USS Mizar. The Mizar supported troops from the West Coast of the United States down through the South Pacific theater.
Many residents of Silverton remember Keith from his Chevron service station and later through his bulk oil distributorship. Whether they had car, home or farm fuel needs, Willamette Valley area residents could count on Keith to handle them.
Like many in his industry, the oil embargo of the early 1970s led Keith to other endeavors until retirement.
Keith was a charter member of the Silverton Elks Lodge #2210, Rotary International and the Fraternal Order of the Masons.
He served on the Silverton Hospital Foundation, was a volunteer fireman for Silver Falls Fire District, and drove the Silverton Health Care Van for many years.
In leisure time, Keith enjoyed elk and deer hunting, woodworking, and most any billiard or golf game.
Keith is survived by his daughter Kimberly Carey (Jon) of Monmouth and his son Keith Berg, Jr., of Houston, Texas from a previous marriage to Dorothy J. Berg.
Also surviving are his wife Carolyn and her children: sons John Duer (Judy), Georgetown, Texas and Alan Duer, Silverton, Ore. and daughter Pam Richardson (Mark), Sacramento, Calif. He leaves four grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild.
A remembrance was held at the Silverton Elks Lodge on Feb. 26,. A private service with military honors was held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
The family gives special thanks to the Silverton Hospital ER staff, the caring doctors and nurses at Salem Hospital, and the compassionate people at Gentiva Hospice: Joy, Joni, Mary Ann, Sandra, and Fred.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable contributions be made in Keith’s name to Elks Veteran’s Benefits, Elks Children’s Eye Clinic, or a local charity of choice. Arrangements were made by Unger Funeral Chapel.
