Ray Lester Bergman

Ray Bergman was born November 1920 in Riverside County in Southern California. He was raised by his loving parents along with his 4 siblings on a large homestead. He grew up on horseback and had many adventures helping his parents raise cattle on their ranch. By the age of 3 he was so accustomed to riding horseback that he would ride, up the canyon to see his cousins, and be gone all day by himself. In 1939, at the age of 18 Ray enlisted into the service of The United States Navy. His father wrote a letter to the Naval base Commandant in San Diego California to attest to his exact age by years, months, days and his nationality, along with his consent to join. Upon joining he went through his basic training and then into medical field training where he earned the title hospital apprentice, second class in February of 1940 for the Hospital Corps by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and worked his way up to Chief Pharmacist Mate. In March of 1944 Ray received the Presidential Unit Citation for his service in the First Marine Division, Reinforced, for the period of August 7th to December 9th 1942. His son Don recalled a story of him in the war at Guadalcanal and Ray described it that “the bullets were everywhere like clouds of flies”. He received the Victory Medal for his service in World War II. He received an Honorable Discharge November 25th 1945. In 2013 Ray’s daughter, Susan helped escort him on an honor flight to Washington, DC. We are very proud of his service, his love of Country and of family. After his release of service Ray rejoined his family in ranching on Palomar Mountain, Aguanga, and Anza. In Anza, he and his family leased the land from the Indian reservation where they would work the cattle regularly. Ray’s oldest son Don who was 9 or 10 at the time was helping on a cattle drive and was walking along the road when something spooked the cattle, they stampeded towards and right behind him. Luckily Ray was on horseback and without hesitation rode up at a run, reached his hand down to him, grabbed his arm, and rode off to safety, a true hero. Ray continued his passion for ranching and also did excavation work with bulldozers, building roads and fighting fires for the Forest Service in Southern California. In 1960, Ray sold his property in Southern California to the Boy Scouts. He and his family moved to Montana that Christmas, where Ray bought and leased land for cattle ranching. Due to the market he progressed to working excavation full time. He built many bridges, roads and ponds, throughout the Bitterroot valley. Upon retirement he and his wife Louise, spent time travelling around the United States and Canada in their Fifth wheel trailer. He met and married his wife Louise in Hamilton. They were married for 54 years. Between the 2 of them they had 9 children. He brought 4 into the new family and she brought 5. They have numerous, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and even a few Great, Great Grandchildren. They enjoyed Grandchildren visiting in the summer. Those Grandchildren still have fond memories of their time spent with their Grandparents. Ray truly had an adventurous spirit. In September 2008 at the age of 87 Ray, his 4 daughters and one of his grandson’s rode mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. He continued to go South and help his family work cattle, roping and branding until nearly 90 years of age. His love of horses and working cattle was legendary in our family. Ray enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting, which ranged from Alaska to the tip of Baja, California. He made many friends along the way! Ray’s Stories are so numerous and even to the end of his days shared them with those who would take the time to listen. He has taken his final ride to see his loved ones, and will be sorely missed. Dad had a few rules. Don’t wear your hat at the dinner table and most memorable to many............. DON’T STIR THE JAM!

Graveside services will be held at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton on Thursday, September 1st at 11am with Pastor Dale Lewis officiating.

Military honors will be provided by the US Navy, Marine Corps League Bitterroot Detachment and Hamilton American Legion.