Ruth H. Berge

Ruth Herdis Berge, 84, of Moorhead, died Tuesday, November 30, 2004, at Eventide Lutheran Home. She was born May 22, 1920 in Estherville, IA, to Rev. Selmer A. E. and Ida Hatlestad Berge. Her father’s parish work took the family to Fort Dodge, IA in 1925 and Fargo in 1931. Music–and church music in particular–was her passion through a lifetime, and her Christian faith was central to all she did. “A life in music, education, and the church” best describes Ruth Berge, and she distinguished herself in the F/M area as both an organist and teacher of Organ and Music over more than four decades. While yet a high school senior, she became full-time organist for First Lutheran Church, Fargo. She continued this during undergraduate years at Concordia College, where she graduated in 1942 with an A.B. in Music and English. In 1944, she graduated from the University of MI, Ann Arbor, with an M.M. in Organ. Ruth first served as Instructor of Music at Parsons College, Fairfield, IA, 1944-1945. Then, in 1945, she joined Concordia’s music faculty and continued in that dearly-loved position for the remainder of her career, rising to the rank of full professor. Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, Ruth studied organ from 1950-1951 at the Conservatory of Music in Oslo, Norway. She maintained a vigorous career-long program of continuing education across the U.S. and Europe, including academic and private studies with such renowned organists as Marie Claire Alain.While also leading courses in music theory and hymnology, organ remained the main focus of Ruth’s teaching and she saw her primary role as preparing church organists. She touched thousands at Concordia with her playing and instruction, and spoke with great enthusiasm of her “marvelous, intelligent, exciting and talented students.” Many of these went on to successful careers of their own as organists and academic instructors throughout the nation. Alongside her Concordia career, Ruth’s work as a church organist enriched a multitude of lives. Most notably, she became organist at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, in 1958, where she served until 1981. In 1988 she retired from Concordia as well. Even in retirement, however, she remained active in the Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists?of which she was a charter member and repeated chapter dean?and in the life of Trinity Lutheran. She also maintained memberships in Mu Phi Epsilon music, Alpha Kappa Gamma education, and U of MI’s music alumni association. The Fargo-Moorhead YWCA honored Ruth in later years by selecting her as a recipient in their “Women of the Year Award.”Ruth was preceded in death by her sister, Phoebe Randolph, of Wheeling, WV. She is survived by: one sister, Elsie Berge of Moorhead; one brother, S. Matthew Berge, M.D. of La Mesa, CA, and his sons?Peter Berge and family of St. Paul, MN, Mark Berge of Minneapolis, MN, and Eric Berge and family of Apple Valley, MN; and her sister Phoebe’s daughters, Kimberley Loccisano of Yorkville, OH, and Jacqueline Woomer of Ashland, VA, and their families.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to the Ruth Berge or Selmer and Ida Berge Scholarship Funds at Concordia College.