Frances Eileen Bergevin (Jackson)

Frances Eileen Jackson Bergevin
August 28th 1922 - March 1st 2013

Salem - Frances Eileen Jackson Bergevin passed peacefully away on March 1st 2013 in the company of members of her family at the home of her son Duane (Pauline) Bergevin where she had lived since the passing of her loving husband Sylvin John Bergevin some 14 years ago.

Frances was born the fourth child of Parde and Mellie Jackson on August 28th 1922. She spent her childhood years in Castle Rock, Washington. By the time she graduated from Castle Rock High School as Valedictorian, she had been involved in a wide variety of activities and acquired skills she would use and share throughout her life. She belonged to the Home Economics Club, the Kodak Club, played clarinet in the marching band, and at an early age became so skilled at playing the piano that she would often be called upon to play for school, civic, religious events, weddings and even funerals. She learned piano as a barter agreement between her mother and the music teacher for laundry and ironing services.

Sylvin and Frances were introduced to each other on a blind date to go rolling skating. Sylvin was immediately "smitten" with Frances. She thought that after their first meeting that he was a most conceited young man. Later her feelings softened as she thought he tried to cover up being somewhat shy about meeting such a gorgeous and wonderful lady.

Frances and Sylvin were married within two weeks of her graduation from high school in August of 1940.

After starting their family in Castle Rock they later moved to Sweet Home, Oregon. Sylvin was employed working in the woods at various jobs progressing over the years to the position of High Climber and Riggin Slinger, titles that will only be familiar to those knowledgeable with the early days of High Lead Logging in the Northwest. Sweet Home at the time was a newly opening market to such logging and mill operations. Their years in Sweet Home were the timber boom town years.

The family grew to six children, Vern (deceased), Mellie Casida (Don), Marvin (Kathleen), Delpha Foulger (David), Duane (Pauline), and Darla Barton (Stuart). Frances was a stay at home mother throughout most of her years but was also actively involved in church, and community service. She eventually went to work at the dental offices of Doctor Henry Wolthius and spent 14 rewarding years there developing relationships that continued until her death.

Sylvin and Frances joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1950. This began a fulfilling life of faith and service for the whole family. They were sealed as an eternal family in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and were stalwart mainstays in the Sweet Home branch of the church serving in too many positions to mention. Their service continued through their senior years serving as workers in the Portland LDS Temple as long as their health would allow.

Following Sylvin's retirement they moved to the Salem area as more of their children and grandchildren were located there. Always actively involved in the lives and happenings of their posterity, family events and gatherings were a particular delight and were not often missed. A regular occurrence of these events was, to the slight embarrassment of Frances, Sylvin would publicly announce that he had done at least two things right in his life, one he had recognized the reality of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and that he had the good sense to marry the most wonderful woman in the world.

Frances is survived by her brother Lewis Jackson (Darlene), five of her six children, 33 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren, and 13 ½ great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Boone Road Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 2530 Boone Road SE, Salem, Oregon on Saturday March 9, 2013, with a viewing at 10:00 am, and a funeral at 11:00 am. Interment will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens.

Frances had asked that any memorial gifts or contributions be given to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints General Missionary Fund or Humanitarian Relief Fund.