Bernard was born in Coesfeld, Westfalen, Germany, Germany and moved with his family to the US when he was 3 years old.

Son of Bernard (b:15 May 1827 in Coesfeld, Wesfalen, Germany d: 26 Jun 1906) and Elizabeth (Bruggenbart) Berning (b: 7 Aug 1832 in Lette, Wesfalen, Germany d: 26 Aug 1907).

Last Rites Monday for Pioneer Citizen
After six weeks of a lingering illness, B. H. Berning calmly and very peacefully left his beloved family and many friends. He was well prepared by receiving the last rites of the church to enter his eternal reward. His death occurred at 12:06 P.M., Thursday, March 18, 1948.
B. H. Berning was born in Munster, Westphalia, Germany, March 4, 1866. At the age of three he came to America with his parents and settled down at Mr. Carmel, Carroll County, Iowa.
In 1888 was united in marriage to Mary Anna Pregler of Herndon, Rawlins County, Kansas, making Herndon their first home. Two years later they moved to Beloit, where they lived for ten years. From Beloit, they moved to Westphalia, Kansas, from there to Tipton, from Tipton they moved to Kinsley, and there they farmed fourteen years, then settling at Marienthal where after thirty-two years of successful farming he passed away. Funeral services were held in St. Mary’s Church at 9:00 o’clock, Monday, March 22, with Solemn Requiem Mass celebrated by his nephew, Rev. Philip Berning of St. Gregory College, Shawnee, Oklahoma. Deacon Rev. George Karlin, sub-deacon Rev. Felician Brookman and master of ceremonies cleric James Berning, great nephew, of B. H. Berning.
Interment was in the Catholic cemetery.
Mr. Berning leaves to mourn, his nine living children, Sister Mary Andrew, Ad. Pp. s., Sacred Heart Convent, Wichita, Kansas; Clara Albers, Nashville, Kansas; Rosalia Linenberger, Ordway, Colorado; Ludwig, Anthony, Nicholas, and Johanna Berning, Frances Kessler, and Elizabeth Kohl, all residence of Marienthal, Kansas. His wife and two children preceded him in death.
There are also forty-seven living grandchildren, three having preceded him in death; fifteen great-grandchildren; and one living brother, Joseph Berning, Sr., of Ashton, Iowa.
The pallbearers were six of his grandchildren.
Hundreds of persons came to pay final tribute to this worthy and respected citizen of Wichita County
Published in the Leoti Standard March 25, 1948