Susan Berg
AMES, Iowa—Susan Alane (Thompson) Berg, of Ames, Iowa, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2026, in Ames, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Lt. Col. Abe and Lois Thompson of Kanawha, Iowa, Susan spent her early years on the move as the daughter of an Air Force Officer. By age sixteen, she had lived in six states, Newfoundland, and the Far East—sparking a lifelong passion for travel that eventually took her to nineteen countries.
Despite her global adventures, Susan’s heart remained anchored to her Iowa roots. Crowned Miss Iowa in 1968, she went on to compete in the 1969 Miss America Scholarship Pageant, where she was named Second Runner-Up. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa in 1972 and her Master of Arts from Iowa State University in 1978.
Earlier in life, Susan was married to Thomas Good, with whom she had her four sons. On October 31, 1991, she married the love of her life, Keith Berg, sharing nearly 35 wonderful years of marriage, laughter, and partnership.
She was deeply proud of her Norwegian heritage—tracing all of her ancestors back to coastal Norway. Susan had a deep passion for genealogy, meticulously researching both her own family tree and the Good family history—a labor of love that leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come. She made seven memorable journeys to her ancestral homeland, remaining warmly connected with family in Norway throughout her life. As an artist, she honored those roots by signing her work as “Vikra,” paying homage to her ancestral home in Karmøy, Norway.
Above all her accomplishments and travels, Susan’s greatest devotion was to her family. She deeply loved her four sons, as well as her niece and nephew, whom she cared for dearly as they grew up. Later in life, that love expanded even further to her grandchildren. Nothing brought her more happiness than visiting with her family and beaming with pride as she watched them pursue the things they loved.
A gifted watercolorist for over thirty years and a dedicated educator, Susan served on the teaching faculty at Iowa State University’s College of Design for two decades, guiding and inspiring nearly 1,300 students and earning a College of Design award for extraordinary performance in teaching in 2004. Her captivating paintings of Scandinavian harbors, European waterways, and historic Iowa landmarks leave behind a vibrant visual legacy of her eye for light, shadow, and detail.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lt. Col. Abe and Lois Thompson; her brother, Timothy Thompson; her infant sister, Cynthia Thompson; her infant grandson, Lane Thomas Good (son of Aaron and Lindsey Good); and her nephew, Ian Thompson (son of Timothy Thompson).
Susan is survived by her loving husband, Keith Berg; her four sons and their wives: Wade (Robin) Good, Matthew (Jessi) Good, Adam (Lindsey) Good, and Aaron (Lindsey) Good; Keith’s daughter, Mareny Berg; and her cherished grandchildren: Bridget Good, Shane and Clay Paulson, Caleb and Lauren Good, William, Thompson, and Griffin Good, Landry Good, and Tyler and Cody Berg. She is also survived by her brother, John (Julie) Thompson; her niece, Stephanie Thompson (Sergie Tiourine); her nephew, Eric Thompson (Heather Angel); and her great-niece, Sylvie Thompson.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Boone, with Father Tim Johnson officiating. Interment will be at Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone following the Funeral Mass. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home in Boone.
Memorials in Susan’s memory are suggested to the Boone Area Humane Society or the Boone Area Veterans Association.
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