Richard “Dickie” A. Bergeron, 87, of Derry died peacefully Monday August 26, 2024 with his wife holding his hand at Greystone Farm at Salem, NH. He was born in Nashua, NH on January 7, 1937, a son of the late Arthur “Buck” and Mary Bergeron. He was the youngest of five children. Dickie moved to Derry at the age of 7 and had been a lifelong resident.
He was a graduate of Pinkerton Academy class of 1956. Dickie entered the Army reserves in 1955 where he served four years before enlisting in the US Air Force National Guard. He was called into active duty in 1961 and stationed at Pease AFB early in the Vietnam War, and honorably discharged in 1964. He excelled at marksmanship. He opened Spacetown Autobody on Scobie Pond Road in Derry in 1962, which is now operated by his son, Mark Bergeron.
Dickie was best known for his deer hunting prowess. He shot his first buck with his dad at age 10, and started his son Mark hunting at the same age. Dickie was a very hard worker and generous man who instilled those values into his children. He enjoyed puttering, fishing, planting and boating on lake Winnipesaukee. As a golfer, he was known as Happy Gilmore. Dickie’s first vehicle was a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and he continued to ride until the age of 80.
Most will remember him by his smile, thumbs up or one liner’s like, “you’re like a bull in a china shop”. Dickie never could remember anyone’s name, so he called everyone “Tiger”. Later in life he and his wife Dorene wintered in Bonita Springs, FL. They enjoyed travelling, golfing and dining out together. They enjoyed weekends at their lake house on Winnipesaukee and watching their grandchildren’s many sports and performance activities. Dickie’s greatest joy was seeing how his family grew to be happy and successful.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Dorene (Hartman) Bergeron of Derry, two sons, Mark Bergeron and his girlfriend Jayne Jarger of Westford, MA, and Christopher Bergeron of Alaska, two daughters, Christina Bergeron and her husband Kyle Pine of Portsmouth, NH, and Krystal Pedersen and her husband Josh of Franklin, MA, four grandchildren, Shea, Liv, Harper and Haakon, one brother, Raymond Bergeron of Montana, and two sisters, Nat Wheaton and her husband Ralph of Ohio, and Virginia Bergeron of Seattle, WA, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Janet Bolten, and by his sister-in-law Phyllis Bergeron.
Calling hours will be held on Monday September 2, 2024 from 4 – 7 at the Peabody Funeral Home and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00am in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 26 Crystal Ave., Derry. Burial with military honors will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery, E. Derry.