What a wonderful spirit Karen was.  Smokey Bear and all of us who got to know her never had a better friend and colleague! She had a vibrant love of life,  caring nature and will be sorely missed by all whose lives she touched.  Every time I think of her (like when she kept the marmot dressed in style for every Holiday), a smile comes to my face.  Our deepest sympathy to Rik and family.

Last time we talked was November.  It was fun to catch up and laugh, as always.  I knew when I walked in the room and heard "Aumiller" that "Bergethon" was waiting for me.   I'll miss our lunches, talks, and friendship.  HUGS to Rick and family....ohhh, how she loved her grandchildren....

Well, you skipped all that old age drama. Had a great time working with you. Hope they have nice yellow bananas in heaven 😁.  May you rest in peace. 
Condolences to the family. 
Daisy Gonzales

My thoughts are with Karen's family.  Karen was my mentor for the Liaison Position in fire assignments with incident command teams.   It was crystal clear that her connections with communities was sacred to her.   She was an exceptional role model for me... a combination of profound professionalism with a flash of funny bone!   I will hold her memory in my heart.

I met Karen many years ago. She became the Pike and San Isabel NF dispatcher after Dorthey McConnell retired. Being a fire dispatcher was such an important and demanding job. When the bell would ring and the field needed resources to engage in the emergency, she was there. I do remember a lightning bust on the forest and Karen was a bit frantic. WE worked thru it and the fires went out. She helped to develop several dispatchers that would go on to make National impacts. Later in her dynamic career, she went to work for our great mentor and friend Glenn Snyder in Fire, Aviation and  State and Private Cooperative Forestry. It was the perfect job for Karen, and she did become our Smokey Bear liaison and promoter along with developing interagency relations. May you Rest in Piece my good friend.

Karen will be deeply missed in many circles. She was always the light and spark at any gathering. Her smile and laughter were infectious, and she was able to see the humor in almost any situation.

Her commitment to the United States Forest Service and the Fire Prevention program was unwavering. She touched hundreds of lives through her work. Instructor, Incident Management Team Officer, and Prevention Officer just a few of the roles she held. Smokey Bear never had a better friend.

Karen was a beautiful soul, and I'm blessed to have been included in her circle of friends. Words cannot adequately express the sadness in my heart.

My deepest condolences go out to Karen's family, friends, and colleagues.

The brightness, energy and humor that Karen carried with her will be sorely missed. 
After many years of working with her, the professionalism she brought to her job and the compassion she brought to her life will stick with me for the rest of my days. 
Go in peace my dear friend.

My Fire Dispatcher
I first remember Karen as the voice on the radio and telephone in Fire Dispatch on the PSICC NF in the mid 1980’s. She tracked every firefighter and made sure they made it home safely after returning from fires from all over the country.  I worked on the Leadville Ranger District and went out with fire crews on a regular basis.  Our drive from Pueblo to Leadville was always  a long trip home and no doubt we were tired after being on an incident for up to 21 days.  One time, I forgot to call Karen after getting home late that night.  My phone rang and woke me up just after I had fallen asleep.  It was Karen and as you can imagine she was not happy with me because I didn’t call her to check in.  That is when I realized how much Karen cared about all of us and she went the extra mile to make sure we got home safely.  I followed up with an apology and a poem about a firefighters job is not complete until you check in with dispatch after returning home.  We became good friends after that. Karen’s heart was as big as her laugh and she stood at the head of the Fire family on the PSICC. My career carried me all over the west and Fire Dispatch was one of the first stops in the Supervisors Office I made after meeting with the new boss. 

Thank you Karen for caring for all of us,
John Buehler

When I received a text from Rik saying Karen was in Hospice care my reply back to him was what happened?  My first thought was that it was a scam of some short.  I followed up with a close friend of theirs to see if he had received a similar message.  He had so we concluded it was true.  A very short time later the friend called and told me he had received a follow up text and Karen had passed.  What a shock.  It was so quick and unexpected.  It is such a shame for such a great person to leave us to soon.  As most everyone knows Karen was Miss Smokey Bear extraordinaire, all Denver Broncos all the time and well known for her buttons, I have several.  What a positive person.  We all could take a lesson from her on how to be positive and upbeat no matter what.  I am privileged to have known Karen and Rik.  Rest in peace good friend.

I was beyond shocked when I heard about Karen’s passing. I worked with her for years in Pueblo. We shared many laughs but when it came to her work on fire dispatch she was the total professional. I will miss her and her posts about her beloved Broncos. My heart goes out to Rick and her family. RIP friend
Lee Chavez

I had the very good fortune to work with Karen in Pueblo.  While my career took me to other places, Karen always found me.  And there was no visitor more cherished.  She talked straight, was passionate about her work and was always full of mischief and fun.  My own Smokey collection pales in comparison to hers but it will always be a shrine to her and the joy she shared so easily.  She was one of a kind.

Extending my sincerest of sympathy to Karen's family.  When I think of Karen and memories of her, one memory stands out above all:  I never saw her not smiling or laughing.  It was infectious for sure.  She will be missed.  It was a true blessing to know her.  Prayers for comfort and peace during this time for the entire family.

I don’t even know where to begin!  I think about Karen every day as I am
surrounded by her gifts:  a John Elway/ Smokey Bear poster, monster women toys, a frozen dead guy day shed, a stuffed animal Bertie Beaver, a wrapped up Woodsy Owl air freshener that she told me smelled like old owl, and many photoshopped photos. Her photoshop skills were legendary. This one is one of my favorites!  She gave us heck for wearing those Woodsy Owl shirts!!  If it wasn’t Smokey…she wasn’t having it.
Karen loved to have fun but she also gave great advice and comfort just when you needed it!!!! Such a wonderful heart and just one of the best humans to ever walk the earth.  I will miss you so much but know I will see you again.  Big hugs and prayers to Rik and family. She loved you all so so much!!!!

So sorry to hear of Karen's passing.  Seems like we were just having ice cream at Enstrums and talking about Forest Service memories and the next picnic we should plan.  Rest in Peace my friend, I miss you already.

My interactions with Karen mostly concentrate around our shared love for Smokey Bear. Our connections go back quite aways, in 2009 she nudged me into taking the leadership roll in the Smokey Bear Association. Karen had a special way of encouraging folks to get involved. Then there is our connection with the Smokey Bear Awards of which she was a 2000 recipient of the Silver Bear Award. I am honored to be part of that distinguished group of folks singled out for their work with forest fire/wildfire prevention.
Karen was well known for her love of Smokey and was one of the collectors singled out to be part of the US Forest Services Centennial Film, “The Greatest Good”, back in 2005 talking about and showing her collection. (some of it)

https://archive.org/download/GreatestGoodUSFS/Disc%203%20-%20The%20Other%20Bonus%20Material/Smokey%20Bear/The%20Collectors.mp4 

As long as there is a Smokey Bear and there are folks whose life she touched in the forestry world, and lets not forget the football world (Go Broncos) Karen will never be forgotten and always loved.

Karen The Button Lady!

In December of 2023,  my wife and I went to the Bronco's Christmas  party at the stadium.  As we tour the insides of the stadium, a Guest Relations woman approached me and says, "You must know KAREN!" 

She saw the button I was wearing on my Jacket, and instantly knew where it came from, and who made it.

Karen was a legend in the West Club level at Mile High Stadium. She was known affectionately at The Button Lady! She made all sorts of Broncos buttons and passed them out like candy on Halloween. 

Everyone knew her. She was one of those fans that was always there Always in her seat cheering and always, always positive about anything Broncos. 

I know that to many people she will be remembered for her work with the Forest Service, but I will always remember her as just about  the biggest and best Bronco fan I ever knew. 

Jordan Winn

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Karen Ann Bergethon

10 avril 1946 – 7 mars 2025

Callahan-Edfast Mortuary & Crematory

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