OBITUARY: MELVIN BERGQUIST

Submitted by: Jenny Tenlen

Source: "The Daily News" (Longview, WA), 25 Apr 2007

Melvin Bergquist was born September 15, 1915 on the family farm near New
Effington, South Dakota, to Erick M. Bergquist (who had emigrated from Sweden)
and Matilda "Tillie" Hanson (who emigrated from Norway). He left South Dakota in
1937 with three friends to look for work and met his future wife, Eileen Maston,
in Pullman, WA.

In 1939 Mel and Eileen were married and came to Longview, WA. He worked for Long
Bell Lumber Co., Weyerhaeuser Co., Uniroyal Tires, Rube & Larry's Tires, and he
retired from Hall Oil Co. in 1984.

Mel and Eileen had three children, Cheryl (Ken) Ylonen, Phyllis (John)
Westervelt of Longview, and Marlene (Tommy) Faught of Ocean Park, WA; seven
grandchildren, Allen Lucas, Terry (Steve) Adams, Dan Lucas, Kelly (Tom) Fritz,
Tammy Lucas, Melanie (Jason) Buck, and Nicholas (Stephanie) Westervelt; and ten
great-grandchildren with an 11th due to arrive in August of 2007; as well as
numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years in 2003 and his brother,
Raymond, in 1988.

Mel and Eileen had many years of RV camping, attending dances and playing cards
with friends; and they especially enjoyed Friday lunches with their girls.

Mel was a member of the Longview Masonic Lodge (past Master in 1981), and had
been a member of the Trailbreakers Jeep Club, the Longview Boat Club, the Moose
Lodge, and the Eagles Lodge. He enjoyed a long and healthy life until being
diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1998. The past few years he resided at the
Canterbury Inn in Longview.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 26, at 11:00 a.m. at Steele
Chapel at Longview Memorial Park.