Olga Helene Nilsen was born on March 29, 1913 in Scandinavia, WI, to Pastor Ole Nilsen and Anna Helene (Sunde) Nilsen. She attended Central High
School, Grand Forks, ND, and graduated in 1933 from Concordia College,
Moorhead, MN, with a major in English and a minor in music.
She taught English and/or music in high schools in ND, SD, and MN,
conducting church choirs in each of the communities in which she taught. On
December 20, 1940, she married Donald H. Berglund at Central Lutheran
Church, Minneapolis. When her husband was stationed in Washington, DC, she
did secretarial and later editorial work in the Pentagon. Following World
War ll she lived with her husband and young son Peter in New York City,
where she studied voice, directed a church choir, and sang in two vocal
groups, including the Collegiate Chorale under the direction of Robert
Shaw.

Since 1946 when her husband came to teach music and develop the orchestra
at St. Olaf College, she has lived in Northfield, and has been involved in
many community activities. In 1946, she organized the Northfield Choral
Club which gave annual concerts for about 5 years. At St. John’s Lutheran
Church she was three times president of the women’s group, and led the
weekly Praise and Prayer group for over 25 years. She was also active in
Church Women United, serving as president, and on the local and state
boards.

In the 50’s and 60’s she was three times president of the Rice County
Association for Retarded Citizens, and also served on the state board. In
1963, she earned an M.A. degree in Educational Psychology from the
University of Minnesota, and initiated the Special Education programs in
the high schools in Northfield, Faribault, and Richfield.
After her husband’s retirement from St. Olaf, she worked with him at an
Episcopal Music School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti for two years. Since her
husband’s death and the death of their daughter Miriam, of Northfiel, she
was involved in editing, writing, and Bible study.

She is survived by their three children: Peter Berglund (Linda), of
Hopkins, MN and their son Alexander (his wife Natalia and their daughters
Nina and Sophia), and their daughter Natalie (Mario); Erik Berglund (Scott)
of Mt. Shasta, CA; and Andrew Berglund (Rebecca) of Northfield, and their
two sons Robert (Wendy) and David (his wife Katy and their children Ben and
Mae), and their two daughters Anna (Roderick) and Julia (Jon).

Olga passed away Friday morning, January 20, 2012, at the care center of
Northfield Retirement Community, at the age of 98.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 28, 2012, at the
Chapel of the Northfield Retirement Community with Rev. Richard Dahlin and
Rev. Kristine Braaten-Lee officiating. Music will be provided by Erik
Berglund and Jo Dahlin. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, Northfield.
Visitation will be at the chapel on Saturday one hour prior to the funeral.

Memorials are preferred to St. Olaf College, Re: The Berglund Family
Memorial Music Endowment Fund.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.