Joseph Berger

Joseph Marcus Berger, 84, of Mandan, passed away December 25, 2020, at Sanford Health, Bismarck. Joe passed away surrounded by his loving family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:30 AM on Thursday, December 31, 2020, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Fred Harvey as celebrant. Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 30, 2020, from 3:00-7:00 PM at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Rosary/Parish Vigil at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at Weigel Funeral Home from 10:00-11:00 AM on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

Both the Mass and Rosary/Vigil will be live-streamed on the Weigel Funeral Home webpage on Joe’s obituary page.

The Mass of Christian Burial, Visitation, and Rosary/Parish Vigil is open to all friends and family of Joe.

Due to current COVID-19 guidelines, there is a limited number of 20 people allowed in the chapel at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Please follow all current COVID-19 guidelines, such as wearing a mask and social distancing.

Joe was born on July 22, 1936, to Tim Berger and Pauline (Gaab) Berger in Mandan, ND. He attended St. Joseph’s School in Mandan. He married the love of his life, Darlene Grosgebauer on December 2, 1954. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1957.

Joe lived his entire life in Mandan, ND. He became one of the biggest cattle buyers in the state. He then began his true passion of raising bucking bulls where he won numerous awards in North and South Dakota.

Joe won three national championships with his bulls at the NARC finals. After that, he started his National PBR career. He had three world champion bucking bulls in the span of five years, all of which he raised himself; Moody Blues, Yellow Jacket, and Little Yellow Jacket. Little Yellow Jacket became a 3-time PBR bucking bull of the year.

In 2006, Little Yellow Jacket went on to be inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 2016, Joe himself was inducted into the NDCHOF.

The most important thing in his life was his family and many numerous friends worldwide. Joe was a mentor. He helped many young men and kids improve their bull riding and other rodeo skills, but most of all he taught them how to succeed in life.

He had a sharp eye with animals and his knowledge was self-taught. He could look at a horse or cow and know what was wrong.

Joe is survived by Darlene Berger; their children and grandchildren: Joleen Berger, her children, Misty and Jerri Jo; Fred (Arlene) Berger, their children, Nicole, Kim, Kiley Jo, Allison, Jacob, Joseph, Nathan; Kim (Mark) Kuhn, their children, Tye, Sascha; Chad (Sarah) Berger, their children, Lacey, John, Sadie; Nevada Berger, his children, Justin, Chloe; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Viola Lonning, Donna Weigel; brothers, Tom Berger, Donald Berger.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Tim and Pauline Berger; brother, Jerry Berger; sisters, Bernice Orgaard and Shirley Lee.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Joe's memory to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame or Home on the Range for Boys.