Don’s longtime pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church, Brian Peterson, wrote up the following remembrance.

In Memory of E. Don Bergstrom

Ellery Donald “Don” Bergstrom, the man with more than nine lives, died peacefully on December 18, 2024.

Don was born in coal country, Davis, West Virginia, in 1934. At age 16 that he sensed the call to serve his country and enlisted in the US Army. He was immediately deployed to the front lines in Korea where he saw significant combat. Shortly thereafter Don joined the newly formed US Air Force in which he served until 1974.

His military service took him around the world—to Asia, Europe and stateside. The stories of Don’s military service are legendary and include tours of duty in both Korea and Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam he was taken prisoner and spent nearly a year in North Vietnam until he and his fellow prisoners staged an uprising and dramatic escape that led to a month or more fleeing captivity in the jungle until safely arriving in Thailand. For his brave service to the country he loved, Don was awarded both a Silver and Bronze Star with V device and oak leaf clusters, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Air Medal and Two Purple Hearts.

One of the many colorful stories of Don’s military career centered around his time as a nuclear missile tech. One day a general showed up with a congressional delegation. The general, eager to impress his civilian counterparts, ordered Don to give him the missile launch key, an order which Don, per military protocol, flatly refused. The general persisted to the point of threatening Don with court martial for disobeying orders at which point Don retrieved his service revolver, pointed it at the general and said, “General, I think you’d better reconsider that order.” He was subsequently subject to court martial but was exonerated and the general demoted. Don was not someone to mess with.

When Don was stationed in California, he met and married his wife, Helen. Upon retirement from the military, Don and Helen settled in Austin and together they raised three children: Donny, Robin and Andy. In Austin, Don began a new career working for the IRS. He continued on his path of service as a 20-year hospice visitor, a Stephen Ministry leader, and grief counselor. Don was an active member of Via de Cristo, the Lutheran Cursillo movement. He was a committed blood donor, donating over 25 years during his lifetime.

For many years he was the heart and soul of Ascension Lutheran Church as handy man, office manager and overseer of the Medical Lending Closet that provided durable medical equipment to the greater Austin community. For a time, Don was also a regular volunteer at the Bread for All Food Pantry with Austin City Lutherans where he is fondly remembered to this day.

In spite of life’s many challenges, Don maintained his passion for service even as began to experience health challenges. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings. He leaves a great legacy, but perhaps none greater than his enduring love for his friends and family, his children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter.

While we grieve Don’s death and acknowledge that the world will never be the same without him, he is and will forever remain a blessing for us all. For a life well lived we give thanks to God in whose arms Don now rests. “Well done, good and faithful servant!”