Hal J. Berkley was born April 17, 1933, the 6th of 8 children of Howard Jackson and Paulina “Polly” Berkley.
He lived almost all his life in Tescott, Kansas and graduated from Tescott High School in 1951. Hal married Eleanor Christenson on August 30, 1952, and they were married for 72 loving years until Eleanor passed on April 10, 2025.
Hal attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence from 1951-1955; Eleanor joined him in 1952 after their wedding. They welcomed twin girls, Karla and Karen, in 1954. He graduated from KU with his Bachelor of Business and, after moving back to Tescott, he began working at the Bank of Tescott with his father and uncle. They welcomed sons Jeff, in 1957, and Calvin, in 1959.
Hal would spend 43 years at the bank, becoming bank president in 1983. He retired in 1998 but continued to serve on the Board of Directors until 2024. He had also been on the board of the Stockton National Bank, the Bennington State Bank, Berco, Inc, Tescott Bancshares, Inc, Alliance Bank, and New Millennium Bankshares Inc. He was a banker by profession but also held a love of all things farming. He managed the Berkley Brothers farming operations for many years. In addition, he became a Shriner and a 32nd Degree Mason.
Hal was active in the community, dedicating time and resources to ensure Tescott stayed a thriving town. He was a Lions Club member, and you could find him volunteering at the Memorial Day chicken and noodle dinner every May. He was also active in the Tescott volunteer fire department; the school board when they consolidated to USD 240; held numerous positions for the Tescott Methodist Church; helped start the Tescott museum; and was instrumental in establishing many businesses and housing projects in Tescott over the years. Their backyard pool was often used for community swimming lessons and teaching his kids, grandkids and great grandkids how to swim and dive. “Hal’s Hangout” was a gathering space for local birthday parties, card games, coffees, book clubs, workouts, and class reunions.
Hal was smart, generous, and kind, with a subtle sense of humor. He and Eleanor loved spending time with their family and friends. He also enjoyed traveling and reading, often nonfiction books about Kansas or World War II. Hal always tried to find ways to help a neighbor. He embodied kindness, respect, and treating others how you want to be treated, and these lessons will be carried on by the people who loved him.
Hal was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; his parents, H.J and Polly; siblings, Arliene, Jack Belmont, Robert (Bob), Jerry, Paul; and son-in-law, John Spurgeon.
Surviving brothers are Don and his wife Pat; and Mike and his wife Debbie; and sisters-in-law Lila Berkley, Eleanor Ann Berkley, and Alma Christenson. Other survivors are his children, Karla Spurgeon, Karen Deckert and her husband, Scott, Jeff Berkley and his wife, Denise, and Calvin Berkley and his wife, Tina; grandchildren, Marika Taylor (Adam), Rebekah Berkley (Chris Contee), Brenna Bliven (Patrick), Rachel Berkley (Kyle Herbert), Sam Deckert (Katie), Patrick Spurgeon, Luke Deckert (April Woody), Megan Berkley, and Collin Berkley (Katie); step-grandchildren, Tyler Adams (Megan) and Dalton Baker (Starr); great-grandchildren, Ainsley, Leyton, Harvey, Hadley, Roselyn, Finley, Ivy, Autumn, Elsie, Wesley, Archer, and (little) Hal; step-great-grandchildren, Cadence, Colt, Ashton, Brynleigh, Etta, and Hollis; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 28, from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Wilson Family Funeral Home, 405 Argyle Ave., Minneapolis, KS 67467.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Friday, August 29 at the Tescott High School south gymnasium. Burial will be in Franklin Cemetery, Tescott.
Memorials may be made to the Ottawa County Community Foundation and the Tescott Fire Department.