Bernadine was born in Independence, Mo on February 19, 1928, the second of five children and
the only daughter of Cleo and Lillie (Clemmons) McGaugh.
As a child, tragedy struck early when Bernadine was severely burned in a coal lamp accident at
the age of two. As she would do many times during her long beautiful journey of life she
persevered and overcame that challenge and others including, the devastating loss of her son
Glenn, supporting her husband during a long-term illness, and her health issues.
Throughout this journey, Bernadine maintained a zest for life that ranged from growing up in a
household of four brothers to having numerous life-long girlfriends, from roller skating and
dancing to developing a passion and love for visual arts. Her spirit of adventure lead her to
travel to California to practice art, a life-long love for the out-of-doors, and to accept a blind date
with a young veteran named Harold “Pete” Bergerhofer. That adventure would lead to a
whirlwind, three-month romance, and then to 63 years of marriage with Pete, until his death in
2014.
Their partnership would not only include the birth of four children but the future addition of a
son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even a
great-great-grandchild. While helping to raise the family Bernadine also put her artistic talent to
work full-time as a professional portrait color artist, doing, by hand, what photoshop does today.
In her “free time” her passion for art produced work that included oil paintings of famous KC
landmarks to comic characters for her grandchildren’s walls and always having her door open to
any grandchild or friend who was coming in the front door.
In her later years when most people begin to “slow down” “Queen B,” as she was often called,
became a “partner in crime” with her daughter, Linda. Weekly, the two would either head to their
favorite restaurants, catch a performance at Starlight Theater, visit family or friends, hit the road
to Oklahoma, or jump on a Southwest flight to San Antonio.
It was this incredible “zest” for life that made Bernadine a beautiful, caring, and wonderful wife,
mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, relative, and friend.
In short, it was what made Bernadine a beautiful, caring, and wonderful (sassy) person!
Bernadine is survived by children Susie and Rick Keesee, Linda Bergerhofer, Dale and Jill
Bergerhofer; grandchildren Jason and Kristi Norsworthy, Jerit and Lindsey Norsworthy, Johnny
and Kortney Norsworthy, Gwen, Rosie, and Dylan Bergerhofer, Brian and Kim Keesee; greatgrandchildren Tanner, Riley, Lennon, Mia, Beckham, Gabriel, Carter, Jack, and Walker
Norsworthy and great-great-granddaughter Halen Brownlow. Survivors also include Sister-in-law Francis McGaugh and numerous other family relatives and friends.
Visitation and Funeral Services will both be held on Monday, August 22, 2022, at McGilley
Antioch Chapel 3325 NE Vivion Road Kansas City, MO. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m. and the Funeral Service will begin at 12:00 p.m. Burial will take place immediately after
services at Highland Park Cemetery 3801 State Ave, Kansas City, KS.
Memorial Contributions can be made to Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, 2000 NE Vivion
Road Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64118 KCHospice.org
