Chersti Kristine Berdahl, age 36, was found deceased on March 14 in Pagosa Springs, Colo. Chersti was born on June 13, 1981, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., to Kristine Laura Berdahl (Groswold) and her husband, Carl Hilmer Berdahl. Chersti lived her first few years in California and then moved to the Dayton, Ohio, area. She later lived in Massachusetts and Missouri before moving to Colorado, where she graduated from Montrose High School. She worked as a medical assistant at a urologist’s office, a phlebotomist and a certified nurse’s aide (CNA). She had completed several classes toward becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Chersti’s mother had multiple sclerosis, a fact that inspired her work in the medical field. However, her mother’s multiple sclerosis also became a difficult burden for Chersti to bear throughout her life. Despite this, Chersti was typically kind and caring to those around her. She is survived by her children, Cory and Abbie; her father, Carl; her sister, Carly; and several aunts and uncles. A previous marriage to Cory Dick ended in divorce. Her husband, Michael Spitler, was also found deceased with Chersti on March 14. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C. Interment will be private. Rest in peace, Chersti.
