Mor Mor's Obituary

The following was written by Mor Mor's son, Gary. Click here for Far Far's obituary.

Bergliot Paulsen Thompson
"Mor Mor”

Bergliot (Berg) Paulsen Thompson, age 95, passed away in her home in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 12:25 PM. She was born Sep 17, 1917 in Springfield, Idaho, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants, Abel Magnus Paulsen and Borghild Marie Bergstedt. In 1924 her family established a home in Sugar House. Berg graduated from East High School in 1934, and she completed one year of school at the LDS Business College. She worked without pay for two attorneys just to get experience to qualify for a paying job. In 1936, Berg drove East to LaGrange, Illinois to visit her cousin Eleanor, who introduced her to Arthur Thompson. A warm relationship followed, and they were married on Sep 14, 1940 in Salt Lake City. In 1950 they purchased a lot and built their current home in the Foothill area of Salt Lake City. Berg was an ideal, loving and nurturing mother to three boys and three girls, all of whom completed College.

Berg excelled in art, especially water color painting. Many homes display her pleasant, colorful landscape and flower paintings. She has painted seasonal flowers on hundreds of wedding invitations, which now hang on walls or adorn dressers throughout the world. Berg lived for Christmas and loved to decorate her home, cook Norwegian cookies, and entertain family and friends. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints she has served in many callings such as: Secretary to a Stake Patriarch, Primary teacher, an officer in the Young Woman’s and Relief Society organizations, and for many years as the ward newsletter editor. She is remembered for her compassion, generosity, listening and empathetic ear, common sense, and genuine love for all. Her family affectionately calls her Mor Mor, which means mother’s mother in Norwegian. She is survived by her sister, Kristine B. (Lynn) McGhie and her children: Judy (Allen) Leigh, Gary (Diane) Thompson, Chris Thompson, Heidi (Ross) Marchant, Tova (Tim) Henry, Rolf (Janeen) Thompson, 30 grandchildren, and 58 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers and their spouses: Finn B (Sarah) Paulsen, Abel E. (Bonnie) Paulsen, Carl B. (Carol) Paulsen.

Viewings will be held on Wednesday evening, April 24, from 6 to 8 pm, at the Wasatch Lawn Mortuary (3401 South Highland Drive) in Salt Lake City, and on Thursday, April 25, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM at the Foothill 3rd Ward (1933 South 2100 East) prior to the funeral which will follow at noon. Internment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. We give special thanks to the doctors and hospice care givers who have helped tend to her needs in recent months.

Far Far's Obituary

The following was written by Gary Thompson, son of Arthur and Bergliot Thompson. Click here for Mor Mor's obituary.

Arthur (FarFar) Thompson, age 87, passed away at home on May 7, 2005 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Born August 20, 1917 in La Grange, Illinois, he was the only son of Kristian Thompson and Anne Sofie Knudsen, both of whom were Norwegian emigrants. Art had two older sisters, Clara and Elsie, and one younger sister, Ruth. He graduated from the Lion’s Township High School, La Grange, Illinois, in 1936. Art married Bergliot Paulsen of Salt Lake City September 14, 1940. They are the parents of 6 children. This September they would have been married 65 years.

In his youth Art excelled in sports including ice skating, running, and horse shoes. He worked as a golf greens-keeper, caddy, and as a Packard Car Salesman. He first met his bride-to-be, Berg, in 1936 when she visited her cousins, who also happened to be his cousins, in La Grange. Sparks ignited such that in 1940 Art drove his Ford Coupe Convertible to Salt Lake City where, after a brief courtship, they were married and settled.

From 1940 to 1981, Art worked in the construction business building schools, chapels, hospitals, commercial and government buildings. Most of that time he worked for the Finn B. Paulsen Construction Company, owned by his brothers-in-law Finn and Abel. He loved his trade and never lacked work because of his honest, quality workmanship and positive attitude. In1950 he built his beautiful family home on the East bench and has been generous with his skills helping friends and relatives build their homes. His main interests in retirement have been family and golf.

Art is survived by his wife Bergliot, his children, Judy (Allen) Leigh, Gary (Diane) Thompson, Chris Thompson, Heidi (Ross) Marchant, Tova (Timothy) Henry of Alaska, and Rolf (Janeen) Thompson, 30 grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren. His parents and two sisters, Clara and Ruth, have preceded him in death.

Services will be held Thursday, May 12 at 12 PM in the Foothill 3rd Ward Chapel, (1794 So. Texas Street, 2405 East). Friends and family may call Wednesday from 6-8 PM, at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 South Highland Drive, or at the church on Thursday 10:30-11:30 AM., prior to services.