William "Bill" Bergstrom

Bill Bergstrom was born and raised in Idaho and completed 12 years of schooling at Glenn's Ferry, Idaho in 1939. He completed one year of college at Boise Junior College (now Boise State) in 1940-41. In June of 1941 he left college and joined the United States Army with the desire to fly. He was not accepted for flying training, as they were only accepting students with two years of college. He was accepted for AM (Aircraft Mechanic) training in Chanute Field, Illinois. He graduated and received his mechanic's rating on December 5, 1941, and was transferred to Panama City, Florida to open up Tyndall Field. Two weeks later he received orders to report to Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas for pilots training as an aviation student. He completed Primary, Basic and Advanced Training all in Texas and graduated as an enlisted pilot with a rank of Staff Sergeant on October 9, 1942. This was the last class to graduate as enlisted pilots in the Army Air Corps. He spent seven years on active duty as a pilot, and three years on reserve status. Bill flew two years out of Boeing delivering B-17's and was one of the first pilots in the Army to check out in the B-29, and deliver them from the factory. Bill was stationed at eleven bases in the United States, as well as overseas in the Philippines, Burma-India-China, Japan and delivering planes to England with trips to France and Germany.

In 1943 while stationed at Love Field in Dallas, Texas he met the love of his life, Margaret Jean Wallace on February 14th and seven days later on February 21, 1943 they married. Bill and Margaret have a son Larry Bergstrom who is a counselor and teacher in Lakeway, and one grandson, Lance Bergstrom of Allen, Texas. In 1952 they lost a daughter, Linda Jean at the age of four.

After his army career Bill worked for Buffalo Airlines for a short time, Sears & Roebuck for five years and then worked as a Mortgage Banker for 27 years in Dallas, Austin and Houston. After retiring in 1979 he came to Lakeway in 1980 working for a developer from Monday through Friday and living in Dallas on weekends. They moved permanently to Lakeway and became members of the Lakeway Church in 1983. In the next 18 years, 1983 to 2001 Bill had many duties at the Lakeway Church, as a volunteer, Board of Trustee for three years, and President of the board for one year, custodian, administrative assistant and Minister of Visitation, and counseling for over 400 bereaved families over the past 20 years in Lakeway. He retired from the church in January 2001, but continued visiting shut-ins, nursing homes, and hospitals for the church, and shortly thereafter joined the Weed-Corley- Fish Funeral Home as a Family Counselor serving families in the Austin and Lakeway area.

From 1989 through 1995 Bill served as a civilian representative on the Lakeway Police Training Board for both Chief Tom Evans and Chief Rick Delong. He also served on the LYCC Board for three years and served as President of the Lakeway Men's Golf Association.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16, 2017 at Weed-Corley-Fish Lake Travis, 411 Ranch Road 620 in Lakeway.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Lakeway Church, 2203 Lakeway Blvd., Lakeway, Texas. Memorial contributions may be made in Bill's name to the Lakeway Church or to a charity of your choice.