The words “always be humble and kind,” from the Tim McGraw song “Humble and Kind,” are words that mean so much to so many people but for Hunter Bergo’s family, friends and classmates those words have become a source of strength, resilience and especially remembrance.
Born on November 30, 2005, Hunter was just 10 years old when he passed away in an ATV accident near his home on March 26, 2016. But in that 10 years, Hunter lived life to the fullest and with a big heart. Hunter left an imprint on many people’s hearts and also leaves behind a legacy that will continue to change the lives of many people.
Hunter’s parents Ryker and Lena Bergo and Jon and Cheryl Kettner of Lanesboro, Minn., have been shown how much Hunter was loved and have received a tremendous amount of support from family, friends, communities, and even complete strangers.
The Hunter Bergo Heart of Gold Foundation was created in Hunter’s honor and will “keep Hunter’s legacy alive by continuing to give and connect in Hunter’s honor,” according to the foundation’s facebook page. Among other things, the foundation hosts an archery shoot in Hunter’s honor each year with proceeds going to a local family in need. This year’s shoot will be held August 10 at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center.
Hunter would have graduated high school in 2024. One of the most meaningful shows of love and support has been from the Lanesboro High School (LHS) Class of 2024. Since Hunter’s passing, his classmates have always remembered and honored Hunter.
Losing a classmate in the fourth grade had quite an impact on Hunter’s classmates at the time, but has had an even greater impact as they have grown up. Hunter’s memory influences their lives daily and will surely continue to make a difference for the rest of their lives.
Although this article will include comments from several of Hunter’s classmates, Mason Howard was chosen to be the main spokesperson for the class.
“At around fourth grade, it just didn’t really sink in right away, it’s hard to, you don’t really put it together while you are on Easter vacation that when you go back to school everything is going to be different,” explained Mason. “It wasn’t until we had a vigil ceremony that next night in Sylvan Park that it really sunk in. Everybody had candles going, everyone hugging his parents – that’s when it all really sunk in and I just remember I cried and cried that night because I really did lose one of my friends.”
The classmates all say that they have a different appreciation for life after losing Hunter. Although they were young at the time, they have grown into the wisdom that such a tragedy can instill.
“I think getting introduced to death at such a young age was kind of a crazy thing; when you’re at that age it just doesn’t feel real that some people can pass away. I had grandparents that passed away but they were very old,” stated Mason. “Knowing all of us have mortality to us, everybody in our grade realized that could be any one of us at that moment. I think that not just for me, but for everybody, it gave us an appreciation for each other and for ourselves and for our family and for our lives.
“It’s kind of sunk in now that we can’t take everything for granted that we have every day,” Mason added.
Mason shared that the “always be humble and kind” slogan they have used for multiple things over the years is the way the class lives their lives, treating people right and always being kind. The loss of Hunter made them realize that any day can be their last.
Lena explained how the song became source of strength and became key in honoring Hunter. “When we listened to the words, we felt like it was everything Hunter exemplified, being helpful, kindness, playfulness, valuing what’s important in life; I could go on.
“It was just absolutely everything. And since that moment, it’s been the foundation of all that we do in honor of Hunter now, from his t-shirts, his foundation, scholarships, etc. we feel that being humble and kind is the heart of Hunter’s memory and legacy here, and we all intend to align our lives with it for him for the rest of ours,” Lena explained. “Seeing his friends, their families, school staff, community members, and many others do the same is just the most precious and wonderful gift.”
Lena noted the class sang “Humble and Kind” at every senior concert this year, and made sure to invite the family. It was also the senior class song/slogan.
Matt Schultz, superintendent of LHS, fondly remembers the choir singing “Humble and Kind” during their final concert of the year. “It was a very nice moment for everyone involved and you could tell just how much he meant to them,” he noted.
“As you can imagine, the senior year is a time of celebrating and also a time of remembering. The class of 2024, staff and also our parents and community were always supportive and asking what they could do to honor the memory of Hunter,” said LHS Secondary Principal Brett Clarke. “It was clear in every conversation I had with people that even when the right thing to do or say escapes us, the desire to keep Hunter a part of the class of 2024 and beyond was certain.”
“They are just so thoughtful and the way that they are continuing to remember Hunter has really touched our whole family’s lives,” stated Cheryl.
There is a sixth grade award, voted on by the staff and kids each year, for an outstanding kind student. That award is now named after Hunter.
A group of Hunter’s friends got together to design and build a bench in shop class to honor Hunter. The class took photos of Hunter with them on their senior class trip, they had a seat for Hunter at graduation with his cap and tassel on it, and many of them had sections dedicated to Hunter at their graduation parties.
“At graduation, before we even went over to the school, we all went over to his burial site by Pilot Mound and we all got a picture,” recalled Mason. “It’s a great picture. Across the board, I know there were tears shed. It means a lot to us. As the tears were shed, there was silence. We all sat there in silence just wishing he was here.”
“Indy Qualy wrote an incredibly beautiful essay about grief, that is so soulful you’d think she had lived many lives already,” shared Lena.
Hunter’s locker at LHS remains Hunter’s locker; it is painted red and has photographs of Hunter displayed on the front.
The classmates will always hold a special place in their hearts for Hunter’s family, including Hunter’s siblings Quadyn, Noah, Zeke and Wren. “We played football with Zeke and his friends on his birthday,” said Hunter’s classmate Caden Johnson, adding, “Zeke is in fourth grade this year so it means a lot to us seeing him at Hunter’s age.”
“We always help out the Heart of Gold Foundation,” stated Kaden Stettler. Kaden has a tattoo on his should that reads “HB” in honor of Hunter.
Red was Hunter’s favorite color. “We wore red at the choir concert and we honored him with our class flower and class motto,” said Michael Rein. The class flower was chrysanthemum, the flower of November, the month of Hunter’s birthday.
“At track and field day back in elementary school we always wore red; every class wears a certain color to track and field day and we always wore our red Hunter shirts,” commented Ethan Soppa.
The examples given of how Hunter has been honored by the Class of 2024 are a mere fraction of what the class, parents, LHS staff, friends and community members have done to show how much Hunter means to them and how much he is missed.
This class is not the same class they would have been if they had not lost Hunter; they share a common bond. They have a maturity about them that most high school graduating classes do not have.
“As we all get older, we find different interests, and we all have different places that we are going to go in life. This will be something that all so deeply care about, that will always keep us connected and tied together,” stated Mason.
“What the class has done has been an entire education on honoring pain, grief, and love, and having the courage and authenticity to express it freely, connect and continue to heal. They have given us more gifts than they could ever realize or understand now. They have healed parts of us we never knew needed healing,” Lena fondly stated. “Their expressions of love and grief, and their ability to translate all of it into beautiful acts, works of art, words of kindness and deep wisdom and the list goes on and on, has been nothing short of extraordinary.”
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