Westport – Bernadine was born in Mount Vernon, Washington where she grew up on the family dairy farm. She attended grade school in Avon Allen and Graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1952. Bernadine married her High School Sweetheart “Pat”, on April 24th, 1954 at First Lutheran Church and celebrated 62 wonderful years. They adopted two children Nancy Lynne (1959} and David Lowell (1962) to complete their family.
Bernie worked for Northwest Urology Clinic for 27 years and then retired.
Bernie was an active member of First Lutheran Church for 78 years. She dedicated many hours serving the Lord. She enjoyed different committees such as the Alter Guild and being a Reader during church services. She also enjoyed welcoming new members. After moving To Westport, WA, she joined Twin Harbors Lutheran Church. She enjoyed her time there meeting new friends.
Bernie enjoyed many facets of life. She loved to travel and worked a short time at a travel agency which gave her the opportunity to travel to Bermuda. Bernie and Pat were active members of the Skagit Valley College Booster club and traveled to Branson, MO for some good old Country Western music. They went on multiple Cruises which took them to Hawaii, Alaska and Mexico. Bernie also enjoyed going with Pat to Parades and County fairs to show Pat’s John Deere tractors. Bernie also visited Eastern Europe and London to visit her sister. She traveled to Australia to visit her daughter and family. Her favorite part was visiting the Koala Bears and Roo’s. Bernie also loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed holidays with the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. She attended 4 of her Grandchildren’s weddings in Tulum, Mexico, Flagstaff AZ, Snohomish, WA and Portland OR. Her last Cruise was to the Panama Canal with her daughter and son in law.
Bernie was preceded in death by her husband: Pat; son: David; parents: Arthur and Stella (Ellestad) Bergquist; sister: Barbara (Bill) Park; and brother in law: Mike Galbraith of Blaine, WA.
Survivors include her daughter: Nancy (Don) Reeves of Westport, WA; sisters: Gayle (Jim) Halmo of Graham WA, and Dayle (Gordon) Young of Salt Lake City, UT; sisters in law: Ellen (Bill) Wiegand of Mt. Vernon, and Joanne Galbraith of Blaine, WA; grandchildren: Jonathon Schauer of Westport, WA, William Richards of TItusville, FL, Matthew (Raquel) Shearer of Chandler, AZ, Tylor (Ember) Reeves of Portland, OR, Allie (Brandon) Pfannenstiel of Scottsdale AZ, Natasha (Andrew) Rodgers of Mesa, AZ and Ayla Richards of Port Angeles, WA; six great grandchildren: Gavin Richards of TItusville, FL; Gracie, Lily, Colton, Beau, and Ryder Shearer of Chandler, AZ. And 1 Special Dog: “Ozzie” who loved his Grandma. He never left her side when she was eating her ice cream. He had her trained to give him his own bowl at 7:15 every night.
She will be missed so much. Please join us for her Memorial Service. It will be held at First Lutheran Church at 2015 E Blackburn, Mount Vernon on April 2nd at 1:30 pm with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall to celebrate her life. Memorials are requested to be made to Harbors Home Health & Hospice in Hoquiam, Washington.
Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.
Published by Skagit Valley Herald from Mar. 16 to Mar. 17, 2022.
