Betty Jeralean Berning, 86, of Liberty, MO passed away at Our Lady of Mercy Country Home.

Mom passed peacefully on Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2022.  She spent her life caring for her family and friends.  She met our dad at a dance in Carrollton, MO and were married for 62 years.  Their life together was one of happiness, love, and fun.  They have two daughters, Valarie and Sara.  Mom worked in Jefferson City at the Harry S Truman building.  She also worked at BMA, Herzfeld’s Beauty Salon and was a partner and owner of the Carrousel Beauty Salon in Excelsior Springs.

Mom spent many years square-dancing with Dad, traveling, playing cards and games with family and friends.  They loved to travel, and we were never too surprised when they would call and say they had driven somewhere out of state.  She would always say, “Guess where we are?”  They had been to every state except Hawaii and their last trip was a beautiful cruise to Alaska.

Mom was a member of the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, served on the alter guild, prayer line and Ladies Guild.  She loved making food to take to the church for dinners.  She cherished her friendship and fellowship with everyone from Mt. Calvary.

Mom was a gentle soul and loved to laugh.  She could be quite the little prankster at times.  You knew when she got you!  She was very caring and kind.  We will miss her always.

We are thankful that she is with her Savior and our dad now.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Donald Berning; father, Albert L. Bates; mother, Flossie P. (Jones) Bates; and two brothers, Leroy Bates and Larry Bates.

She is survived by her sister, Shirley Kelly, (John); daughters, Valarie Johnson, (Leonard) and Sara Musil, (Don); grandchildren, Toby Johnson, Samuel Shepherd, (Melanie), Nicholas Shepherd, (Kim), David Musil, (Melissa), Shaun Musil, (Destiny) and Amy Smith, (Sterling); and four great-grandchildren.

Services were held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Mar. 21, 2022, at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior Springs.  Visitation was 9-10 a.m. prior to the service.  There was a graveside service on Monday, Mar. 21, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Lutheran Cemetery in Norborne, MO.

Contributions can be made to the Lutheran Cemetery at Norborne, MO and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.