Lorel Berg (Lolo), 72, died October 25, at Hospice House in Bend, from COPD exacerbating respiratory failure and pneumonia. Lorel died peacefully in her sleep.

She leaves her daughter, Sheryl Timm; son-in-law, Brian; granddaughter, Annika; grandson, Anders; as well as her beloved dog, Lucy; and cat, Honey.

Born in Eugene on October 16, 1947, to Roberta and Orel Hopper, Lorel lived in the Eugene area until 1978.

Lorel had a love of all animals, particularly horses. Her horse was her great escape, a way to explore while bonding with her four-legged friend. Her horse eventually led her to meet her husband, John Berg, in Alvadore, Oregon. Their relationship grew over four years, and the couple married in 1965. They had a daughter in 1966, the joy of their lives. They divorced in 1969.

Lorel’s love of horses continued as she bred, raised, and trained horses in the Eugene area. This led to a move to Sisters, to work at the Patterson Ranch. There she was a first-string team member nurturing horses, elk, llamas, and camels. She loved this work and the joy it brought her. She even bottle-raised two baby elk in her home that had been rejected by their mothers.

It was an honor for her to deliver Arabian horses to Italy from Peach Creek Equestrian Center. Later, she worked for Willows Ranch where she imported and trained the first Friesian horses in Oregon. She had an eye for horses, wisdom, and a reputation built on hard work and a love of learning. She had such fond memories of the times she was involved with importing and exporting horses between the U.S. and Europe.

After an injury, Lorel was retrained at COCC and began working as a phlebotomist at St. Charles where she worked primarily in the emergency room for 16 years.

Lorel was an artist, gardener, cook, photographer, singer and trumpet player. But above all she loved Jesus, her family, her friends, and the beautiful creation that God made. She was particularly intrigued by clouds and waterfalls.

A memorial service was held at Christian Life Center in Bend on November 30.