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In Memory

Bernice Ackerman (Haarberg) - Class Of 1944

 Bernice Selma (Ackermann) Haarberg, 88, of Imperial, died July 9, 2015, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. Bernice Selma (Ackermann) Haarberg was born to Jacob and Lydia (Unger) Ackermann on Feb. 14, 1927, at Indianola, Nebraska. She lived on the farm until she was three years old and then moved to McCook, Nebraska, in 1930. Her father worked as a carpenter and built their first house in McCook. The family attended Peace Lutheran Church. She attended parochial school in McCook through the seventh grade and then transferred to public school and graduated from McCook High School in 1944. When she was 16 years old, she worked at F.W. Woolworth dime store until she graduated from McCook Junior College in 1946. Bernice was baptized March 20th, 1927, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Ashe Creek, southeast of McCook and was confirmed May 19, 194,0 at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook. She taught Sunday school and was a longtime Walther League and choir member. After graduation, Bernice worked at various places, including the Nebraska Department of Assistance and Child Welfare, the U.S. Air Force Base north of McCook and then the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. She was united in marriage to Dean Edgar Haarberg of Imperial, Nebraska, on April 25, 1954, at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook. They made their home on the farm 1 ½ miles west of Imperial. To this union three sons were born: James, Wayne and Brian. After semi-retiring in 1991, they moved to town. Bernice was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Willing Workers, taught Vacation Bible School, was a member of the Lutheran Layman's League and was a longtime choir member. Bernice and Dean celebrated 61 years of marriage. She was an avid cook, enjoyed traveling, gardening, flowers and spending time with family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Lydia Ackermann; and her brother, Arthur. Survivors include her husband, Dean Haarberg of Imperial; children, James Haarberg and wife, Mary of Imperial, Wayne Haarberg of Imperial and Brian Haarberg and wife, Sondra, of Frisco, Texas; grandson, Nathan Haarberg; step-grandchildren, Amy Roeder of Omaha, Nebraska, Kevin Thomas of Omaha and Heather Bennet of Texas; one sister, Vera Eaton of Arvada, Colorado; and brother, Harvey Ackermann, of McCook, Nebraska.