Paul Michael Berg

Paul Michael Berg, 58, retired chief patrol agent of the Del Rio sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, lost his long, well-fought battle with cancer on Sunday, November 25, with family members by his bedside in San Antonio, Texas.

Paul was born in Crosby, North Dakota on July 29, 1949 to Kenneth and Doris Berg. He graduated from Lignite High School in 1967 and received a degree in Law Enforcement from Minot State University in 1971. He played basketball throughout high school and college.

Seeking a warmer climate, Paul started his law enforcement career as a police officer in Denver, Colorado. In 1973, he was accepted into the Border Patrol academy, his lifelong dream. Throughout his thirty-two year tenure in the Border Patrol, he and his family were stationed in Arizona, California, and Texas.

During his distinguished career, Paul was at the forefront of several important programs that flourish today, such as the Drug Demand Reduction Program, the expansion of the K9 Program, and the Chaplaincy and Peer Support Program. He was the initiator of the acquisition of what is now the Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico. Paul's passion for his work led him to testify before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and the Judiciary Committee. The impact of his work was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

Following his retirement, Paul formed a San Antonio-based consulting firm, Border Management and Corporate Security. Serving his community was an important part of his life. Among others, Paul was involved with the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church, Val Verde Hospital District Board, and the Del Rio Rotary Club.

Paul is survived by his wife, Olivia Vargas Berg of San Antonio, Texas; his children, Andrea Berg Chris Maley of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Rachelle Brian McGonagill of Lubbock, Texas; Nathan Mirian Berg of San Antonio, Texas; and Jacob Berg of San Angelo, Texas; his parents, Kenneth and Doris Berg of Lignite, North Dakota; his brother, David Pam Berg of Lignite, North Dakota; his sisters, Kathleen David Fagerland of Noonan, North Dakota; and Ruth Dean Carlson, of Grenora, North Dakota; his step children, Michael Caroline Perez and Marc Tobi Perez of San Antonio, Texas; and Steven Perez of Houston, Texas; and his grandchildren, Alec Perez, Brooks Perez, and Dylan Perez, of San Antonio, Texas.

Paul's final resting place will be at Scandia Lutheran Cemetery near McGregor, North Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Paul's name to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, National Mail Processing Center, PO Box 6003, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007-6603, www.livestrong.org.