Rolf I. Berg, 82 of Maddock, ND, died Saturday, December 18, 2010 at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby.  Memorial  Services will be Monday, December 27th, 2010 at 1:00 PM at Viking Lutheran Church rural Maddock, ND with Pastor Allen Campbell officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Music for the service will be from Ted and Ann Stiz and Rachel Markestad.

Rolf was born in Fargo on December 28th, 1927 to parents Andrew and Gina Berg.  He attended Benson County Agricultural and Training High School in Maddock, graduating in 1946. Rolf went on to attend Concordia College, in Moorhead, MN  from 1946 to 1948 and completed his education at NDSU, graduating in 1951 with a degree in Agricultural Economics.  Rolf remained a devout  Bison football fan until his death, rarely missing a game via TV or radio. He taught Vet Ag at the Benson County Ag and Training school for three years before starting to farm. Rolf married Helen Mae Pranke (Hakanson) on February 19th, 1966 at Viking Lutheran Church in rural Maddock. They would have celebrated their 45 wedding anniversary this coming year.  Rolf and Helen lived on the farm homesteaded by Timan L. Quarve until his retirement, then residing in Maddock until his death.  Rolf started farming around 1953.  He produced varied grains and raised livestock to include purebred Herefords and Red Angus. Rolf was proud to be one of the first farmers to produce and receive pinto bean coverage from the Federal Crop Insurance Agency  in Benson County.

Rolf served on several organizations throughout his lifetime. In college, he served on Bison and Furrows, Toastmasters, Alpha Zeta, Blue Key, Saddle and Sirloin, and College 4-H.  After college, he enjoyed 41 years of service on North Dakota's Association of Soil Conservation Districts at the  local and state level (president/vice-president) serving along with his wife Helen as she served multiple terms as an officer on the Women's Auxiliary, ND Crop Improvement Association, ND Water Quality Task Force, ND Farm and Home improvement  4-H Club, ND Upper Mississippi Basin Advisory Board, ND Pest Management Inc., ND Devils Lake Basin Commission, ND Sheyenne River Advisory Board, NACD Great Plains Committee, ND Hunters Safety Instructor (approx 250 trained), NRA Basic Rifle Instructor ("Cease Fire, Open Bolt" from Rolf's voice echoes for all), Maddock Rifle and Pistol Club leader, Maddock Developmental Corporation, Maddock Kiwanis-Minn/Dak Club, Maddock Horizons Committee, Maddock Tree Committee,  Viking Lutheran Church lifetime member rural Maddock (President, Secretary, Trustee), Bethel Bible Teacher, Sunday School Teacher, Luther League Advisor, Eastern ND District Representative for Harvey Conference,  Historical Society Advisor to have Viking Church placed on National Registry,  Representative for Viking Lutheran Church on Rural Prairie Churches Segment on PPT in 2008, Board Member Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd (New Rockford), Township Clerk, Benson County Crop & Livestock Improvement Assoc.,  Member Farmers Union and Farmers Bureau, and Sons of Norway (president).

Rolf was looked upon with great respect as a conservation farmer by law-makers, professionals, neighbors, friends, and family who were in contact with him professionally or personally.   He received numerous Governor nominations and awards to included:  ND Central Soil Conservation Achievement, Benson County Ag Award to NDSU, International Peace Garden, ND Soil Conservation Society Commendation, ND Heritage Award, ND Tree Farm Award, ND Assoc. of Soil Conservation Dist. Layman's Award,  Maddock Community Volunteer, Great Neighbor Award, and numerous dedications for serving on boards and committees throughout his lifetime.

Rolf's other interests included: traveling with his wife Helen to Norway several times to his home in Skodjie and to soil conservation conventions throughout  the years, their cook shanty or "House of  Memories" as they referred to it, spending quality time with family to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren seeing all their lives grow and change, hunting, Peanuts comics, "The Forum", crossword puzzles, feeding and watching the birds, Maddock sports,  the Twins, the Vikings, and last- but not least- visiting.  Rolf always led with an extended hand.  He was kind and considerate whether young or old, friend or family.  He truly was one in a million.

He is survived by his wife Helen of Maddock;  their four children: Connie (Paul) Backen of West Fargo, Steven (Patty) Pranke of West Fargo, Kent (Laurie) Pranke of Maddock, Kris Pranke of Gilbert, AZ; Eight grandchildren: Joel, Erik, Scott, Steven, Peter, Amanda, Kaia, and Andrew;  two  great grandchildren: Sophie and Brooklyn;  two nephews: Rick (Tracey) Berg, Mike (Wendy) Berg; two nieces: Kathy (Dennis) Walsh , Cindy (Todd) Halunen; one sister-in-law: Francie Berg; and many cousins and other relativies living in the USA and Norway.   He was preceded in death by his parents- Andrew and Gina Berg, a stepmother- Minnie(Fragodt) Berg, and his brother- Bertram Berg.