Martin Trygve Bergan 1930 -
2019
I have slipped the surly
bonds of earth and danced the skies on silver wings
11/26/2019 McMinnville News-Register
Martin "Marty" Bergan was born July
21, 1930, in Yakima, Washington, the eldest of four, to Opal and Trygve Bergan.
He grew up in Parkrose,
Oregon, overlooking the Portland Airport, graduating from Parkrose High School
in 1948. He attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, where he played
football and baseball for the Wildcats.
In 1951 he left Linfield to
serve in the U.S. Air Force so he could learn to fly. He had his first solo
flight in July 1951, and graduated in May 1952 along with his fellow cadets of
52 Charlie. Four months later, he shipped off to Daegu Air Base in South Korea,
where he flew 100 combat missions in the Republic F-84 Thunderjet.
Upon returning home in June
1953, he married Margie, and they started their life together at Craig AFB,
Selma, Alabama, and Bryan AFB, Bryan, Texas. At Bryan, he was a flying training
instructor, flying the T-28 Trojan when Mona, their first daughter, made her debut.
Marty was released from active duty in 1955 and immediately joined the Oregon
Air National Guard, where he continued to fly on weekends and nights because he
loved flying.
In 1967, he left teaching
and accepted a full-time position at the Oregon Air National Guard Portland Air
Base. In 1971, Marty was responsible for the aircraft conversion from the
F-102s to the F-101s, and in 1980 the conversion of the F-101 to the F-4C
Phantom II. In 1981, he moved the family to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he
became the Chief Executive Detachment Commander of the 142nd Fighter
Interceptor Group Alert Force at Kingsley Field. In 1985, he retired as
lieutenant colonel, logging more than 7,000 flight hours.
Several years after
retiring, Marty and Margie moved to McMinnville so he could play all the golf
he wanted at Michelbook Country Club and attend as many Linfield Wildcat games
with long-time Linfield friends. In 1999, Marty began coaching Linfield Women’s
Golf, guiding them to four Northwest Conference titles. Throughout his whole
life, Marty enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, boating, skiing and, most of
all, flying.
Marty is survived by his
wife, Margie; Mona and Dave Thomas of Eureka, Montana; Mindy and Jack Pharris
of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, Jax and Janelle and great-grandchild,
Eowyn; Mary-Alice and Mike DeBoer of Happy Valley, and Mitchell and Madeline;
Michaele of Richmond, Virginia, and Mark and Omar.
Outdoor graveside military
honors will be held at 11 a.m. December 17, at Willamette National Cemetery,
Happy Valley.
A “Marty Party” will be held
at a later time in McMinnville. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to
Linfield Top Cat, Alzheimer’s Association or Bristol Hospice.
#
Wildcatville Postscripts:
--On 11/26/2019, Linfielder John
Prutsman, like Marty Bergan a Class of 1957 member, said Marty had
two brothers, also Linfield grads.
The brothers were John
Bergan, class of 1958, and Dan Bergan, class of 1960.
John Prutsman said the three Bergan brothers played
baseball for Linfield on the same team. In at “least
one game (Coach Roy) Helser put them all in the infield with Vern Marshall at 1st base. I don’t that
it ever happened but thought it would be great for an announcer to call a
triple play: That was Bergan to Bergan to Bergan to Marshall.”
--See video about US Air Force Lt. Colo. Martin T. Bergan:
--See video about US Air Force Lt. Colo. Martin T. Bergan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP8tYx5Phgw
--Oregonian “Northwest Notes” by sportswriter Pat Frizzell on May 20, 1956, included (see photo below):
--The Franklin Post student newspaper of Portland’s Franklin
High School June 2, 1965, edition included the fact the school’s wrestling teams
were city champion in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960. “Coached by Mr. Marty
Bergan, the teams were well-balanced and had little trouble wrapping up the
city championship.”
--Oregonian “Northwest Notes” by sportswriter Pat Frizzell on May 20, 1956, included (see photo below):
