Muriel Irene Berger, age 90, of Detroit Lakes, MN, died Thursday, May 15, 2008, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley and surrounded by her family at Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes.

Muriel Olson was born June 28, 1917, in rural Waubun, MN, to Carl and Martha (Rogers) Olson. She grew up northeast of Waubun where she attended country school. Muriel graduated from Waubun High School with the class of 1936 and furthered her education at Moorhead State Teacher's College. Upon receiving her teaching certificate, she began teaching country school southwest of Waubun. On Jan 31, 1942, Muriel was united in marriage to Russell Berger in Detroit Lakes, MN. Over the years, they moved to Thief River Falls, MN, then Clearbrook, MN, and settled in Mahnomen, MN, where Muriel taught school. In 1971, they moved to Detroit Lakes, where Muriel taught at Rossman Elementary as an instructional aide. After many years of teaching, Muriel retired in the late 1970's and they remained in Detroit Lakes. Russell died in September of 1993 and Muriel continued to make her home in Detroit Lakes.
Hobbies which occupied Muriel's time were gardening, tending to her flowers, crocheting and traveling. Some of those travels included going to Rone, Denmark with her sisters and visiting her daughter in Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Virginia City. She really enjoyed taking in all the sights in several states including Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada and Colorado. Muriel had a tremendous sense of humor and a passion for garage sales. She was also an avid reader and loved arts and crafts, especially oil painting. Muriel was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, and First Lutheran Church, Mahnomen.

Muriel is survived by a daughter, Rhonda (Paul) Hanson, Reno, NV; three sons: Ronald (Carol) Berger, Pelican Rapids, MN, Randy (Beverly) Berger, Mahnomen, MN, and Rick, Detroit Lakes, MN; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Todd Benesh, Minneapolis, MN, Troy (fiancée, Marsha Howard) and their children, Zoie and Madison, Minneapolis, Travis Benesh, Brainerd, MN, Regie (Lynda) and their children, Zachary and Brianna, Crofton, NE, Michele (Mike) Honek and their children: Brooke, Sydney, and Cole, Dilworth, MN, Christine Berger, Mahnomen, Rachel Berger, Mahnomen, Nikki (Steven) Tang, Chandler, AZ, Jason Hanson, Reno, NV, and Traci Hanson, Reno, NV; two sisters, Dolly Beauchamp, Tacoma, WA, and Phyllis (Harold) Nelson, Moorhead, MN.

In addition to her husband, Muriel is preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Rosalyn; and four brothers: Charles "Chubby", Ken, Ernest and William.
Blessed be the memory of Muriel Berger.