Douglas Noel Berger

12/24/1937 — 03/11/2024

From Richland,WA | Born in Minnesota

Celebration of Life

Starts:
Fri, June 14, 2024, 2:00 pm
Ends:
Fri, June 14, 2024, 3:00 pm
Location:
Events at Sunset
915 Bypass Highway

Richland, WA 99352

Reception

Starts:
Fri, June 14, 2024, 3:00 pm
Ends:
Fri, June 14, 2024, 6:00 pm
Location:
Events at Sunset
915 Bypass Highway

Richland, WA 99352

Douglas Noel Berger

A loving and kind man has gone to a greater, kinder place. Douglas Noel Berger passed away March 11, 2024, in Mesa, AZ. He loved warm weather and sunny skies for the winter months. 

Doug was born to Edwin and Alvina Berger in Minnesota. They were of true Norwegian decent and had the stubbornness to prove it! The family moved to the Tri-Cities when Doug was young and he left only for college, the Air Force, and for work for Bechtel in San Francisco.  

A man of many talents, he was a design engineer for Battelle.  He was an inventor and held several patents relative to his work at Battelle as well as a few private inventions which never got patented as he was a man with a curious and inventive mind but not much at administrative follow through. He loved designing unique homes for friends.  He designed a log home, which stands in the mountains above Yakima as well as a bunkered home in North Pasco. 

As one might expect, Doug loved to draw and was a talented artist.  He especially loved to paint wild birds and always hid an odd but creative element in most of his paintings.  He loved sunsets and clouds and everything about astrology.  He was happiest sitting and watching both. 

Most of all, he loved his family.  Doug was the instigator of many silly and fun times with the grandchildren.  Many a time, he and the grandchildren got banished to the back yard for playing “chase” in the house   

Doug loved the outdoors whether it was backpacking, golf, hunting, waterskiing, or fishing. He was most passionate about fishing, particularly for walleye and bass. He missed the state record for largemouth bass by mere fractions.  His golfing buddies always said he was the luckiest golfer in the world because no matter how “crooked” his drive, he always managed to hit a tree or building and have his ball bounce back into the fairway.  

Doug graduated from Richland High School, attended Pacific Lutheran College and served in the U. S. Airforce, mainly in Turkey.  After the Airforce, he went to work at the Hanford Nuclear Site for various contractors but his longest time there was with Battelle who was his employer at retirement. 

After retirement, Doug and Clara spent winters in Arizona coming back to the Tri-Cities to escape the hot summers in Phoenix. 

Doug is survived by the love of his life and wife of nearly 50 years, Clara. Also surviving are his brother, Donald Berger of Las Vegas, brother-in-law, Arnold Swirbul of Mesa, Arizona and brother-in-law Terrell Freemantle of Yuma, Arizona.  Survivors also include his and Clara’s blended family: daughters Kim Berger Horne (Bob) of Vancouver, Washington and Sheri Niebel of Pasco, Washington; sons Jim Berger (Jan) of Mesa, Arizona, and Bill Beem of Kennewick, Washington. Survivors also include his wonderful grandchildren (12) and great grandchildren (18).  Doug also had numerous nieces and nephews that were an important part of his family. Preceding him in death were his parents and sister and brother-in-law, Betty, and Len Klienhesselink.  

The love Doug had for his family and friends will be missed. Services will be at Sunset Gardens in Richland on Friday, June 14 at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow. 

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Douglas Noel Berger

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  • Deepest sympathy to the entire family.

    Judy Andersen
    June 13, 2024
  • Doug was “one of the good ones.” When you were around him, you were treated like family. My own family alwaus called me “Willy.” So did Doug. He will be missed by so many people.

    Bill (Willy) Chapman
    May 14, 2024
    McMinnville, Oregon
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