Family man Vern Bergstrom loved softball

Former Hennepin County prosecutor Vernon Bergstrom, a man who loved softball, church and family, died on Wednesday at age 82 after heart surgery.

Bergstrom, who suffered a shrapnel leg injury in World War II, prosecuted arson and other cases for about 20 years. His strong Swedish Lutheran beliefs led him to found Minnesotans Against Gambling. Along with other groups, it helped stop proposals to fund the Twins' new stadium by allowing slot machines at Canterbury Downs.

But Bergstrom's passion was softball, which he played whenever he could with co-workers, church friends, his sons and until four years ago, with fellow seniors in Florida, his wife said. Why was it such an obsession?

"It was outside; it was with a bunch of guys. If you are on a team, that is a group of friends," said Marie, his wife of 58 years. She brought snacks and their six children, when they were youngsters, to many games. "He was always on several teams," she said. "He was always the pitcher and he was excellent. He pitched some no-hitters."

Bergstrom, of Minneapolis, was a great fan of the Twins and "all things baseball," said his oldest son, Jim Bergstrom. He said family members took a Twins logo off his father's favorite jacket and tucked it into his pocket for the funeral. They also tried to slip in a can of their father's chewing tobacco, but their mother objected.

Jimmie Meyers, a friend of Jim Bergstrom, said he played softball for 15 years with Vern Bergstrom on the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church team, that won a state church league title in 1974. "His family was always there, the little kids running around," Meyers recalled. "It was a family thing with Vern."

Bergstrom grew up on a farm near Rush City, then served in France as Army rifleman in World War II. After injuring a leg, he returned home and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1951. He taught English in high school while attending night school at William Mitchell of Law, then worked for Lutheran Immigration Services in New York City. He returned to become director of the Hennepin County League of Municipalities and then a prosecutor.

Bergstrom was very active in DFL politics, attending caucuses and state conventions. "He would let you know right away that he was Swedish," said Jim Bergstrom. "If you were Norwegian he'd go after you and say, 'Norwegians are nothing but has-been Swedes.'"

Bergstrom's faith anchored his principles, his son said. His father felt that gambling was morally wrong and that Christians had a responsibility to protect gambling addicts. At a news conference in 1997, Bergstrom said: "I want to live in a major league town, but not on the backs of the weak, vulnerable, poor and addicted gamblers at Canterbury Park or anywhere else."

In addition to his wife, and son Jim, he is survived by two other sons, Dick and Ted, daughters Kristin Gibbs, Laurie Hancer and Cindy Abbe; 13 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Interment will be at noon Monday in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658