The BHS Alumni Trail. with Signe (Hanson) Bergeson, Class of 1949.

Let’s take a walk back in time a bit further on The BHS Alumni Trail. Meet Signe (Hanson) Bergeson, Class of 1949. 

Signe, the youngest of six siblings, attended 1st through 8th grade at Hillside, District 30, a one room country school before going on to high school in Bagley, graduating in 1949. One brother, Orville, graduated from Bagley.  

Of note, Signe’s parents were immigrants from Norway with 2 children, the third born within 3 months of when they arrived. 

Signe didn’t go on to more education. At the age of 16 she didn’t feel she was ready to be so far from home. Signe believes her parents felt the same.  

Signe used the words she was “too immature” yet at the ripe age of 16 immediately went to work for the Clerk of Court at the county court house.  The Clerk of Court also owned the land title abstract business, so she did that too!  Signe continued her work until early 1953 when she accepted a job for the County Attorney. A position she maintain til she married the love of her life, Don Bergeson August 27, 1955.  

Signe met Don January 23, 1953 at a dance in Gully.  He had received his discharge papers that day and he was still in uniform.  They didn’t start dating until several months later.  

Don was an iron worker in construction. Due to the construction of the Power Plant at Taconite Harbor on the North Shore, their first home was an 8 X 35 ft. (284 sq. ft.) trailer house, yikes! Later the couple moved to the Iron Range, living most of that time in Hibbing. It was during this time the couple had their 3 children; Bruce, Julie and Lauri.  Don continued working in construction until 1962.

 In 1962 they decided to be farmers and bought the farm where Signe was born and raised, 460 acres. Don was always a farmer at heart, Signe “not so much”.  A brother owned her childhood farm he purchased from their parents a few years prior and he wanted to sell.  The opportunity arose and Signe and Don became farmers, full time. They milked cows and did general farming. The two continued to raise their children there as well.

Don had some health issues. Being cooped up in the barn with the milk cows in the winter etc. exacerbated the issues.  They sold the milk cows in 1975 and continued with beef cattle, which he could do besides the iron work. 

Signe was an avid supporter of her kids activities. Along with her kids being very academically inclined they were into many extracurricular activities, mostly sports; volleyball, football, basketball, track, cheerleading, choir, et al.  In church; Sunday school, choir, confirmation etc. And as one might imagine growing up on a 460 acre farm, her kids were active in 4-H, exhibiting dairy.  One year they had 6 animals at the Clearwater County Fair.  They were especially active in the clothing project.

A few years after buying the farm Don went back into construction. On his 48th birthday, May 18, 1978, while working construction in Bemidji, he fell.  The fall resulted in a spinal cord injury, leaving him a quadriplegic.  Signe cared for him at home for 22 years until he passed away in 2000.  

She said Don was a very good “patient” and had a bright outlook on life.  They spent a lot of time with family and friends visiting and playing cards, games and going out to eat.  Signe said she had about 10 hours a week help from Clearwater County Nursing Services. She is deeply grateful to the employees and staff.  At the time of the accident the couple had two of their kids in college and one at home.

Signe and Don’s three children also graduated from Bagley High, Bruce in ‘75, Julie in ‘77 and Lauri in ‘80. All three also are graduates of Concordia College at Moorhead.  Bruce is now a retired High School Principal and his wife, Kaia retired from teaching FACS. They live in Montevideo and still work part time. Julie Simmons, lives in Detroit Lakes, has her own accounting and tax business. Her husband, Bill, is a technology coordinator for Pelican Rapids School and for Trinity Church in DL.  Lauri Beier, is a registered nurse and does hospice home care for HIA in Detroit Lakes.

Signe has 10 grandchildren and “many” great grandchildren from age 19 down to one born December 16, 2025.

While living in Bagley, Signe was active in Faith Lutheran Church (Circles and WELCA), Hospital auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary, (especially the blood drives which she worked for many years, plus donating blood until she was 90+. 

Having lived most of her life in Bagley, she decided it was time to move closer to family members.  During the Fall of 2022 she sold her home and moved to Detroit Lakes.  She said she really enjoys being close to them, doing a variety of activities.   She now lives in the Madison Apartments.  There are many daily activities that keep her busy.  She attends great grandchildren's’ activities when she can, and is able to watch some on her iPad/TV.  She enjoys her new church home, Trinity Lutheran.  The church is located across the parking lot of the apartments so she is able to walk. 

Signe wasn’t one to travel much, a bus trip here and there, a few visits to Oklahoma.  Her big trip was about 10 years ago.  Her grandson played UND football.  They had a game with 

Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, CA. She was able to fly out to see the game and spend a few days with family that lived nearby.  Signe got the opportunity to see the Pacific Ocean and the mountains.

In Signe’s earlier years she enjoyed sewing, embroidery, counted cross stitch , baking, cooking, and old time dancing. Today, she still likes to play cards, board games, crossword puzzles and sudoku. 

A life still being lived fully!  Congrats Signe Hanson Bergeson, BHS graduate 1949!