Losing a father is never easy, but losing my father to COVID in November has been devastating for our family. My dad, Les Berdal, was the best dad a girl could ask for.

As an adult, I still spoke to him every morning, as he was my go-to person for advice or just to talk. My husband says he was the best father-in-law a guy could ask for and considered him to be another “Dad”.

He was a healthy and active man who likely had many more years to share with us until COVID took him. He was active in his community, being a first responder for over 40 years, active member in the American Legion, and was always willing to take time to help people in need.

He was the “favorite grandpa” to 5 girls. He would drop everything to go to their events or to have “Grandpa Daycare.” There were so many things he still had to teach them.

Dad died alone after being taken care of for 12 days by a fantastic staff at the VA Medical Center in Fargo. It was awful not being able to hold his hand and only be able to see him over an iPad. I can only imagine how scared he was.

We miss our husband, father, grandpa and brother, and have heard that he is greatly missed by his community.

Please get your COVID vaccine to prevent hospitalization, or worse, the loss of your loved one. If it would have been available, he would have gotten the vaccine to prevent his family from going through this.