Bernard Raymond Berntson passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at his home in Muskegon, MI, on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Bernie was born on August 27, 1939, to George and Bertha (Aune) Berntson, the youngest of eight siblings. He grew up on the family homestead in Silvesta township, Walsh County, North Dakota. His storytelling of clucky hens, missing heifers, gopher shooting and picking rocks would transport you to his childhood farm days. After early education in a one-room schoolhouse, he graduated in 1957 from Oak Grove Lutheran High School and went on to graduate from the University of North Dakota (UND) in 1961 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a love for Sioux hockey. He built his career marketing GE’s electric motors over 24 years and 4 states. Following his time at GE, he moved to Wisconsin first as the Vice President for Doerr Electric and then as Vice President and General Manager at Thomas Industries before retiring in 2003. As a retiree, Bernie enjoyed vol