Ronald Henry Berg

Funeral services for Ron Berg will be held on Monday, November 11, 2024, at 2:00pm at Discovery Church in Owasso, OK. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at Inola Funeral Home from 1:00-6:00pm with family receiving friends from 4:00-6:00pm. Ron will be laid to rest at Parkside Mennonite Cemetery in Inola, OK. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Inola Area Farmers and Ranchers Van Service. 

Ronald Henry “Butch” Berg, age 82, of Inola, Oklahoma went home to his Lord and Savior on Monday, November 4, 2024. He was born on January 16, 1942, in Inola, Oklahoma to the late William H. and Mary Reimer Berg.

Butch grew up working on his family’s farm and attending the Mennonite Brethren Church in Inola. Strong work ethic and genuine faith in God were the backbones of his family, possibly stemming from his mother’s father being the pastor of a church in Russia prior to fleeing persecution and following the waves of Mennonite immigrants to America. His father, also Mennonite Brethren, taught him a strong work ethic along with Christ-like compassion for others in need. Despite being an introvert, Butch exuded great confidence in his strength and athleticism in playing basketball, his ability to carry two 100 lb feed sacks at a time, and hauling hay. 

Butch met his wife Gloria Sue in 1960, while she was visiting family in Inola, Oklahoma. They married on March 25, 1961 and made their home in Inola, Oklahoma, raising three children.

Butch was self-employed for most of his life. He worked in various occupations, from egg delivery, hay hauler, and owning a trash route and propane delivery. Most of his professions centered around trucks and he especially loved driving a tractor-trailer. His skills developed so well that he could drive through farm gates and park his semi right next to the hay barn to unload without scratching or breaking anything. It was an amazing sight to watch. Butch trained many people to drive trucks, including Gloria. It became an expectation for the whole family to obtain a CDL as we all drove whenever needed. No surprise, his love of driving passed on to each of his children.

While he didn’t believe he was “college material”, he had an amazing mathematical mind and ability to memorize numbers, highways, and dates. Despite this, he still accidentally told people he was 35 until he turned 40. We could never tell him about a trip we took without first telling him what highways we drove to get there and back. Then he would tell us the route we should have taken plus what he delivered there. Butch acquired his CB handle, “T-Bone”, after driving an old truck already named “T-Bone” that he used to pull hay trailers.

T-Bone was a humble man of faith who witnessed to others by role modeling Christ-like behavior to everyone he worked with. He was a good listener and sought to fully understand everything that was told to him. He enjoyed listening to Christian Radio while on the road and spent many miles praying for people and life’s needs. Though he worked with seemingly rough truck drivers, he kept his language clean. This both influenced and puzzled other drivers, and gave him an opportunity to share his faith. Butch really enjoyed volunteering in the church, preferring more behind-the-scenes work than standing on stage. Anytime a church work-day was planned, it was a requirement to be there. Butch even learned to sing in the choir because he liked the fellowship and learning new things.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria; his brothers Bill Berg and Bob Berg, his sister Lawanna Berg, his grandson Cody Austin Berg, and his son-in-law Michael Martin.

Survivors include his daughter Delinda Martin of Inola, Oklahoma; two sons, Shawn (Dawn) Berg of Monticello, Florida, Erik Wade (Jill) Berg of Owasso, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren, Jessica Berg of Clearwater, Florida, Cody (Shelby) Martin of Forsyth, Missouri, Danielle Martin and Justin (Jazmine) Martin of Inola, Oklahoma, Sydney Berg of Monticello, Florida, Henry Berg and Helena Berg of Owasso, Oklahoma; two great grandchildren, Evelyn Martin of Forsyth, Missouri and Adiella Martin of Inola, Oklahoma; and one brother, Richard (Joann) Berg of Kellyville, Oklahoma.