In memoriam.

       On August 5, 1934, my parents, Albert and Edith Negstad, gave birth to their second child, a boy, whom they named Richard Bergh Negstad. Bergh was my mother's maiden name. Richard's sister, Lucille was two years old. He died while shoveling snow on January 11, 1997.

      Educated as an electrical engineer his work was designing computers using vacuum tubes. With the advent of the microchip much of what he was doing suddenly became obsolete. Perhaps that was the tipping point for leaving engineering which he did not always enjoy.  He bought the farm his grandfather started in 1884, when Grandpa was sent to South Dakota to found a Lutheran Church in the Hauges Synod. His uncle, Alfred Bergh, had been farming it until his retirement.

      Engineering did not use many of his gifts of management and leadership. Farming allowed him to be his own boss and he quickly became active in community affairs. For a number of years he served as a county commissioner, next he was elected a representative to the state legislature and then he became a state senator. At the time of his death he was senate majority whip.

       Four years older than I, he was a huge presence in my life growing up. It's hard for me to realize how much older I am now, than he was when he died. He is buried at the Bergh Cemetery, on the grounds where grandpa's church stood, and adjoining his farm. His death was followed a year later by the death of sister Lucille. Twenty three years later I still miss him. Husband, father, grandfather, brother, statesman.......

Takk for alt,

Al

Standing by his first car, 1936 Ford...1950?