Dixie Lee Bergmeier, 87, died March 7, 2025, at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community in Buhler. She was born January 14, 1938, in Wakefield, the daughter of Mert and Louise (Blesh) Sherbert. Her parents died when she was young and she was taken in and raised by William “Bill” and Lela Auld of Wakefield.
Dixie graduated from Wakefield Rural High School with the Class of 1956. She attended Kansas State University and Washburn University. Dixie received her associate’s degree in 1984 from Colby Community College and was a licensed practical nurse. In 1989, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and became a registered nurse. Dixie worked at the Phillips County Home in Phillipsburg and Good Samaritan Society in Fort Collins and later as a nurse at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins.
Along with her husband Gary, Dixie was in the second class of emergency medical technicians in Kansas and they served as EMTs in Hoxie and Phillipsburg. Dixie was also involved with Gary’s farm equipment operations in Hoxie and Phillipsburg. She was active in Missouri Synod Lutheran churches in Colby, Hoxie, Phillipsburg, Abilene, Manhattan, and Fort Collins, CO.
On June 1, 1958, Dixie married Gary Francis Bergmeier, at the home of Bill and Lela Auld in Wakefield. They shared 64 years of marriage before his death in February, 2023.
She is survived by: her four sons, Mark and Michele of Wamego, Mike and Angie of Hutchinson, Dave of Dodge City, Dan and Monica of Hutchinson; 11 grandchildren, Paige (Ryan), Petey (Samantha), Preston (Becca), Brock (Sarah), Elissa, Olivia, Frank, J.J., Eli, Andrew, Isabella; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Dixie’s wishes were to be cremated. Memorial service will be 10 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 2025, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 4801 Anderson Ave., Manhattan. After a light family luncheon, burial will follow in Highland Cemetery, Wakefield.
The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2025, at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church or the donor’s choice, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
