Bill Bergen, son of Wilhelm Henry and Maria (Enns) Bergen, and Elma Friesen, daughter of Cornelius and Emma Friesen, met as students at Rosthern Junior College. Efforts of friends, and a piece of apple pie, brought them together. They were married in 1949. Elma worked as a stenographer while Bill studied at the University of Saskatchewan graduating with a B.A. in economics and a B. Com.
During this time, Bill received a $200.00 bursary from Federated Co-operatives Limited. This prompted him to apply for a job there, upon graduation. He spent the next 27 years as an employee of Federated Co-operatives Limited – the last nine as Chief Executive Officer. Since 1979, Bill has been active as a business consultant, University lecturer and director.
Elma became a full time mother and home maker. Four children blessed the marriage: Valerie, Sandra, Billy and Lorna. All four attended Rosthern Junior College and the University of Saskatchewan. Valerie is a graduate of the College of Nursing and Sandra, Billy and Lorna graduated from the College of Commerce.
Good health, some work abroad and a desire to travel brought about a number of interesting off-shore and North American trips. They traveled to Europe, Japan, Australia, Hawaii and various places in the USA. Canadian trips included all of the Provinces and the Territories. The most memorable trip involved travel throughout Israel and Egypt. Some parts of the Bible became very real, with new meaning.
Bill and Elma have been active in the Nutana Park Mennonite Church, and in the Saskatoon community, and Bill has been honored with the City of Saskatoon’s Certificate of Distinguished Community Service, as well as with the Saskatchewan Co-operative Order of Merit.
Their faith, their belief in education, and their desire to give back to the community inspired Bill and Elma to establish the Bill and Elma Bergen Fund at the Saskatoon Community Foundation, creating a bursary that will be administered through the Nutana Park Mennonite Church.