Dorothy Berger, 86
Dorothy "Dottie" Hader Berger, 86, our cherished mom and grandma passed away at home with family by her side on Dec. 7, 2023. She loved celebrating other people’s birthdays, and in perfect Dottie fashion, she held true to this even in her exit from this world as she went to join her husband on his birthday.
She was born in Savoy, Montana, to Florence Olive and Sylvester “Bud” Hader. The family later moved to Washington and eventually settled in Kalispell when Dottie was a young girl.
She was such a dedicated woman in all she did, and this was evident in her relationships with family, friends, and her life of constant steady work. This work ethic began at an early age when she got her first job at 11 years old cleaning motel rooms in the summers. She transitioned into the role of waitressing not long after, where she discovered her love of serving people. The restaurants that were blessed with her employment were many in the early years including the Mayflower Café, Eddie’s Café in Apgar, Skylark, Hacienda, and then 22-plus years at the Outlaw Inn before retiring. Throughout the years mom made many lifelong friends, due to the heart she wore on her sleeve every day.
Dottie married the love of her life, Philip Lee Berger, and they were married for 63 years before his passing in 2020. Together they raised four children, and the biggest loves of her life were her children, grandchildren, her Boston Bull pups and her cat Lilah.
Family was her greatest joy in life. Her kids would drop in for daily lunches and the memories shared around the kitchen snack bar will always be cherished. You would always find her in the kitchen cooking and baking, and whenever visiting, the cookies and desserts were brought out. She enjoyed working in her beautiful yard and playing cards and board games. Family time held a special place in mom’s heart, which included vacations down the Oregon Coast, time spent at her sister’s home on the bay in Olympia, picnics at the lake and school shopping trips to Spokane with her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Phil; her parents; brothers, Dick and Mickey; and sisters, Betty Lou and Vickie.
She is survived by her four children, Debbie, Cheryl (Wayne), Denise (Garret), and Dennis; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to Brendan House and Logan Health Hospice for their dedicated care, and to her granddaughters, Trista and Trina, who traveled here to help with her care at home. At mom’s request no service will be held and a private family gathering will be held this spring to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the NW Montana Humane Society or the Lighthouse Christian Home of Kalispell.
Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for the family.