Dr. John Bergland

The Reverend Dr. John Kenneth Bergland, 94, of Davidson, formerly of Wilson, died peacefully on Monday morning, December 9, 2024, surrounded by his family.

A Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, December 28, 2024, 1:00 PM, at First United Methodist Church, Wilson. The visitation will follow the service in Asbury Hall.

The Reverend Dr. Bergland, affectionately known as Dr. John, was born on February 3, 1930, to G.K. and Mildred Bergland in Fergus Falls, MN. He was the second of five children born to this missionary preacher couple, growing up in the remote areas of northern Montana. His father’s ministry eventually took him to an Evangelical United Brethern church in the badlands of Glendive, MT, where John developed a love for being a cowboy, spending his summers on ranches in North Dakota and Montana learning to live the life of a cowboy.  As a young man he would follow his older brother, Jim, working the wheat harvests of Montana and North Dakota. 

It was also at this time that the Lord had his hand on young John in a mighty way.  At an old-time camp meeting John made the decision to follow Christ, and that would change the course of this cowboy’s life. The 4th verse of the hymn, “There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood” captures his conversion experience and marked the entirety of his ministry.

“E’re since, by faith, I saw the stream thy flowing wounds supply, redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.”

Following his graduation from Dawson County High School, in Glendive, John followed his brother, Jim, to York College in York, Nebraska where he would become a pre-ministerial student, play football, and fall in love with the woman who sat beside him in chapel, Barbara Benfer. Between semesters, at the age of 19, John became a licensed pastor and was appointed to serve a small congregation of the EUB Church in Ekalaka, Montana.

While in college John continued to date and eventually marry Barbara, on August 23, 1951. Together, they would share 68 wonderful adventure-filled years.

Following their graduation in 1952, John and Barbara followed Jim to Dayton, Ohio, entering United Theological Seminary and earning a Bachelor of Divinity degree. While a student, he was the pastor in Hollansburg EUB Church in Hollansburg, Ohio. While there, Barbara gave birth to a son, Bob. John continued to attend seminary and upon graduation was ordained and appointed to Liberty EUB Church in Liberty, Ohio. While there Barbara gave birth to their daughter, Margaret Ann. 

John’s gifts for pastoral ministry were quickly recognized and he was appointed as the pastor of Beavertown EUB Church in Dayton, Ohio, following the untimely death of the pastor serving there. John was only 29 years old. During his ministry there the congregation grew to the degree that a new sanctuary and education building were needed. This would become Church of The Cross EUB Church.

During this time, he also developed a love for flying small planes. He became a licensed pilot, eventually becoming a flight instructor. With several clergy colleagues, he became a member of a flying club called the Sore Heads.

John was elected by his colleagues in the West Ohio Annual Conference to serve as a delegate to the 1968 General Conference where the EUB Church and the Methodist Church would unite to become The United Methodist Church. It was during this time he was invited to join the faculty of United Theological Seminary as Director of Admissions, where he would travel across the country encouraging potential students to come to UTS.

In 1973 Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC invited him to join their faculty as the Associate Professor of Preaching. Later that year he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity Degree by Florida Southern College. He served on the faculty of Duke Divinity School for 10 years becoming Professor of Homiletics and Associate Dean.

Bishop William R. Cannon appointed him to the United Methodist Foundation for the NC Annual Conference as the Executive Director in 1983, where he served for three years. Dr. John asked to be appointed to serve where his heart was as a local church pastor, a “Servant of the Word.” He was appointed to Haymount UMC in Fayetteville, NC where he would serve until his retirement.

Dr. John served in pastoral and extension ministry for over 70 years. He was a beloved pastor, theologian, and spiritual leader, known for his passionate commitment to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and serving others.

Throughout his ministry, Dr. John touched the lives of many with a deep sense of compassion, wisdom, and a steadfast belief in the power of faith. In addition to his pastoral duties, Dr. John also authored numerous books on sermons, published monthly sermon helps for six years in The Circuit Rider, and wrote about the history of the United Methodist Church. He served on numerous community and institutional boards and agencies. He was a clergy delegate to the 1968 & 1972 from the West Ohio Annual Conference and served at the 1976 & 1980 General Conference on the Committee of Correlation and Editorial Review. Dr. John became a clergy member of the NC Annual Conference in 1976.

Dr. John lived his dream of being a cowboy as the owner of BB&K Farms in Beaver Dam, NC; was an amazing storyteller that would capture an audience regardless of the topic he was speaking on; and was a great friend, caring brother, loving husband, proud father and an amazing “Gramps”. His work, and life, left an indelible mark on all who encountered him, and he will be greatly missed. He would have it be known that “all is OK, because he believed”.

Dr. John was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Benfer Bergland; parents, George Kenneth Bergland and Mildred Turnquist Bergland; brothers, Dr. Jim Bergland, Dr. Richard Bergland, and Tom Bergland; brothers-in-law, Dr. Dennis Wise and Harold Benfer.

He is survived by his son, Robert E. Bergland (Ellen) of Wilson; daughter Margaret Ann Shupe (Rick) of Mooresville; sister, Kay Wise of Winchester, VA; grandchildren, Trey Knox (Ashley), Tyler Knox (Jessica), Tucker Knox (Cynthia), Eric Bergland (Hannah), Andrew Bergland (Chelsea) Sarah Carroll (Murphy); great-grandchildren, Sadie Knox, Wyatt Knox, T.J. Knox, Parker Knox, Lincoln Knox, Alice Bergland, Henry Bergland, Walter Bergland, Lionel Carroll, Ellie Carroll, Millie Bergland, Ben Bergland; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the Barbara Bergland Scholarship at First United Methodist Church, PO Box 1423, Wilson, NC 27894, Duke Divinity School, Alumni and Development Records, PO Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708, www.divinity.duke.edu/give or to the Bergland Retreat Center, Camp Rockfish, 226 Camp Rockfish Rd, Parkton, NC 28371, www.camprockfish.org

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, (252) 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com