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Leona Hedwig Leistiko, the daughter of John and Hedwig Leistiko, was born in in Great Falls, Montana in 1913. Leona grew up in the boarding house run by her mother.
When Leona was in the 4th grade, the family moved to their farm on benchland near Power, Montana. (In excerpts from "We Called Them Back", Montana Homesteaders and Pioneers of the old Wilson Post Office Country, published in 1974 in the Fairfield Times, Leona wrote about her memories of her childhood).
Leona married Albert Bergmann in 1931. As with most people, they had many struggles during the depression. In 1939, they opened the dance hall and bar in Ulm, called Bergmann's Barn.
When World War II started, Al enlisted in the Air Corps as a pilot, and became an instructor. Leona ran the business for a while then closed up and moved to Oklahoma to be with Al. While they were there, Leona learned to pack parachutes, and served as a parachute rigger for the Air Force.
After Al's discharge, they moved back to Great Falls and bought bought Schell's Place in Cascade, which had rooms to rent, a bar, and restaurant. Eventually they sold this business and bought a motel in Choteau, Montana. They had to sell the motel due to illness, and Al then worked 13 years for the Industrial Accident Board. They built a home on the Gore homestead west of Great Falls, and Leona's mother spent several years with them before she passed away in 1966 at the age of 87. They later moved into Great Falls.
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Al and Leona have no children of their own, but have enjoyed spending time with their many nieces and nephews over the years. Al has always been an active hunter and enjoyed participating in Trap and Skeet events. (Check out Bill Leistiko's Montana Bear Story of October 1936, where Al bags a grizzly). Leona was active in the Great Falls Gardening and Floral Societies and both enjoyed golfing. She also was former president of the Does, through the Elks Lodge, and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Cowgirls Association (her name is in the Cowboy Hall of Fame), Eagles Auxiliary, America Legion Auxiliary and the AARP.
Al and Leona celebrated their 70th anniversary July 28, 2001. Leona died of cancer in Great Falls on November 23, 2002 in a Hospice hospital. Al died April 7, 2004, also in Great Falls at age 96.