Elinor P. Bergman

2-25-1925 - 11-23-2015

Elinor Pitman Bergman was born to Benjamin S. Pitman and Dorothea Arnold Pitman in Pueblo, Colorado on February 20, 1925. “Ellie” went to be with the Lord in her daughter Jane’s home in Englewood, Colorado after a full life. She committed her life to Christ at an early age and maintained her faith throughout her life. Her life verse was Proverbs 3:5-6.

The family moved from Pueblo to Denver in 1937 where she attended Byers Junior High School and graduated from South High School in 1942. Ellie attended Colorado A & M, now Colorado State University in Fort Collins, graduating in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She was one of only a handful of women who lettered in athletics, participating in rifle shooting, the Swan Club and field hockey. It was at A & M that she met her future husband. Later, she earned hours toward a Master’s degree at the University of Northern Colorado.

On August 24, 1946, she married Walter F. “Bus” Bergman at her home church, the First Baptist Church in Denver. They moved to Durango, Colorado in 1947 and both taught at Fort Lewis Junior College. The Bergmans moved to Grand Junction in 1950 where they raised three children: Judy, Walt and Jane. The family spent many wonderful times at their cabin by Sunset Lake on the Grand Mesa. Bus coached at Mesa Junior College and Elinor taught Physical Education and coached at Grand Junction High School and West Middle School. She maintained many friendships with her former students and athletes.

While raising her family and working, Ellie was active in the First Baptist Church, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Colorado Education Association, and Mesa County Republican Women. Upon retirement in 1980, Bus and Ellie and her mother moved to Glenwood Springs. Ellie’s hobbies included knitting, fishing, golfing, reading the Bible, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Bergmans returned to Grand Junction, but spent winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. She continued her involvement in her church, P.E.O., and bridge clubs. She also enjoyed volunteering in the gift shop at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Ellie and Bus took great pleasure in their extended family which included her younger sister, Jane Clark Baker and her children, and Bus’ sisters (Margaret and Gordon Johnson, and Dollie and Bill Butler) and brother (Bill and Carolyn Noxon) and their families.

Ellie and Bus were married for nearly 64 years before his death in 2010. She is survived by her sister, Jane Baker of Napa, California, her brother-in-law Bill (Coco) Noxon, her children, Judy (Charlie) Black, Walt (Carol) Bergman Jr. and Jane (Michael) Norton, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

The last few years, she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Mike, in Englewood, CO. From their home she enjoyed extended visits with her beloved family in various locales. She was a woman of deep faith who made friends wherever she went.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Baptist Church, 720 Grand Avenue, Grand Junction, CO on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, 2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, Colorado on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Should you wish to make a memorial contribution in Elinor’s honor, the family suggests gifts can be directed to the Bus Bergman Baseball Endowment Fund at Colorado Mesa University, 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 80111.