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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Lt. Col. Lester Dale Bergsten of
4Peoria, who passed away on February 10, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Bergsten was born in Concordia, Kansas
6to Samuel and Florence (Smith) Bergsten on July 8, 1930; he
7received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
8from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas; he served
9four years in ROTC and upon graduation received a second
10lieutenant commission in the United States Air Force; he
11married Jeanette Elsie Griggs in Delphos, Kansas on January
1225, 1953; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Bergsten was called to active duty
14during the Korean War; he served on active duty and reserve
15assignments for 37 years with the United States Air Force;
16during his tenure, he was an instructor on the atomic bomb;
17later, he served as a liaison officer for the United States Air
18Force Academy for 20 years in Central Illinois, counseling
19students from area high schools and Illinois Central College;
20he received numerous commendations from the United States Air
21Force, including National Defense, USAF 20 Years of Reserve
22Service, Air Force Service, the Outstanding Unit Award
23(twice), and the Air Force Commendation; after 37 years of

 

 

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1service with the United States Air Force, he retired with the
2rank of lieutenant colonel in 1990; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Bergsten worked at Caterpillar, Inc. as
4an engineer for 40 years, retiring in 1992; he had assignments
5at the Peoria Proving Ground, the Gas Turbine Engine Division,
6and the Product Safety and Environmental Control Division; he
7was a registered professional engineer in the states of
8California and Illinois; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Bergsten served on the Peoria City
10Council as the District 5 Councilman for 20 years from 1973 to
111993; on his retirement from the city council, he was honored
12by having the Peoria Public Works Facility on Dries Lane named
13after him; one of his key assignments while on the city council
14was working on a joint city-county committee that oversaw the
15construction and operations of three Peoria City/Peoria County
16landfills; he served on this committee for over 44 years; he
17was a key person in planning the annexation of Pioneer
18Industrial Park and Willow Knolls Shopping Center to the City
19of Peoria; he was active in the Republican Party and served as
20a precinct committeeman for many years; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Bergsten was a member of a number of
22organizations, including Pi Tau Sigma and the Society of
23Automotive Engineers; he held life memberships in the Silver

 

 

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1Falcon Association, the American Society of Mechanical
2Engineers, the Air Force Association, and the Reserve Officers
3Association; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Bergsten was preceded in death by his
5wife of 63 years, Jeanette; his parents; his son, Paul Lester
6Bergsten; and his grandson, Houston Lee Arrowood; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Bergsten is survived by his children,
8Dr. Eric Dale (Rebecca) Bergsten and Ann Lee Arrowood; his
9grandchildren, Tova and Galen Bergsten; and his
10great-grandchildren, Jase and Macy Arrowood; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
13Lt. Col. Lester Dale Bergsten extend our sincere condolences
14to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
15it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Lt. Col. Bergsten as an expression
18of our deepest sympathy.