Tributes

Dwight passed peacefully in the early morning hours of November 22, 2023, at Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital in Clackamas, Oregon from pneumonia due to complications from Parkinson Disease. Dwight was born at the Woodburn, Oregon Hospital on April 12, 1944, to Prosper James Berning and Margaret Francis Sonnen. He was born just 10 minutes after his identical twin, Duane. Dwight spent most of his childhood on his dad's farm on Arbor Grove Road between Woodburn and St Paul, Oregon. He graduated from Serra Catholic in Salem, Oregon in 1962, Mt. Angel College in Mt Angel Oregon in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He went on to the University of Nebraska where he earned his master's in education in 1968. Dwight taught English, art and journalism at Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield California from 1968 until 1975 then he taught three years in Oregon City and finished up his career at Benson High School in Portland, Oregon. In August of 1969 he married the love of his life, Linda Aljets. Together Linda and Dwight volunteered as youth ministers, religious education teachers, and liturgy commission leaders at St. Philips Catholic Church in Bakersfield, California, St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Tigard, Oregon, and St Edwards Catholic Church in Keizer, Oregon. After retiring, Dwight substitute taught for Salem Public Schools, drove tram at the Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon, and joined the Silverton Art Association and was active with the Silverton Art Festival in Silverton and for the Benedictine Sisters in Mt Angel on their board of directors. Dwight's hobbies included gardening where he always had the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood, art and photography. He visited every art gallery on the Oregon Coast multiple times and his children remember waiting in the car while he went off to the side of the road to take multiple pictures of some gorgeous scene. Dwight was preceded in death by his father, Prosper and his mother Margaret, father-in-law Dale F Aljets, sisters-in-law Eva Ruiz Berning and Lori Talbot Aljets. Dwight is survived by his loving wife, Linda of Happy Valley, OR his four children Deanna, of Milwaukie OR, Jim and his wife Jaime, Banks OR, Ben, Tualatin OR, and Carrie and her husband Shawn Contreraz, Portland OR and five grandchildren, Nicholas Finberg, Courtney and Colby Berning, Poppy and Margaux Contreraz. He is also survived by his brothers Duane, Salem OR, Bob (Cheryl) Larkspur CO, Tom (Eileen) Wilsonville OR, Fred, Salem OR, Wally, Silverton OR and Dean, Lake Oswego, OR and his sisters Karen (Todd) Woodruff, Bend OR and Kathy (Jim) Schlotfeldt, McMinnville OR and nieces and nephews too many to number. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dwight's name to Parkinson Resources of Oregon or The Benedictine Sisters Foundation in Mt Angel Oregon. Arrangements by Simon Cornwell Colonial Chapel. The memorial service to be announced after January 1st to accommodate attendance by all immediate family.

Tributes

Dwight James Berning

April 12, 1944 - November 22, 2023