Gilbert, AZ – Bernard Peter Lockert departed peacefully on his last flight west into a setting sun on November 15, 2020.

Graveside service with Full Military Honors will be Friday, July 8, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. MT at the Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon, SD.  Following the service a time of sharing and refreshments will be at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.

Bernard was born on January 27, 1938 in Lemmon, South Dakota to Peter J. and Alma Erickson Lockert.  He met his loving wife Lora later in life; they were married on February 14, 1982 and enjoyed 38 years of happiness and love together.

Bernard attended Lemmon Grade School & graduated from Lemmon High School. After a move to California and a tour with the US Air Force, he attended Spartan School of Aeronautics to obtain his flight instructor rating. His journey on earth then took him back to Lemmon where he flew for Lemmon Aircraft Co and enjoyed the wonderful friendship with the Kolb family and other fine friends.  During the stay in Lemmon, he transferred to the SD Army National Guard where he became military-helicopter qualified and served in that capacity as well as a fixed wing pilot/instructor pilot. In 1982 he transferred to the Nebraska National Guard where he served as a helicopter pilot and fixed wing pilot/standardization instructor until he retired from in 1991. He wore the uniform and Master Aviator wings with honor and pride.

From Lemmon, it was back to school earning a Bachelor of Science degree from NAU Salt Lake City in Aviation Management. He then was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration as an Operations Inspector. Bernard spent 28 ½ years with FAA serving at several different positions/locations throughout the United States. He retired in Los Angeles, CA as the Deputy Manager of FAA's Flight Standards Division for the Western Pacific Region.

After retirement, he and his wonderful wife Lora moved to Lubbock, TX to live at Biggin Hill Airpark that had their own runway and hangar with each residence. Shortly thereafter, Bernard and his neighbor bought a 1939 Piper J-3 and restored it back to a pristine old/new J-3 Piper Cub. During this project, Beanie/Bernie received a call from InterFlight Services, a Consulting firm in Seattle, WA asking if he would be interested in employment as a consultant to Civil Aeronautic Administrations in Taiwan, Asia and other countries along the Pacific Rim. He accepted this position and continued this work for the next 20 years generally making three, three- week trips a year to these various countries. His work was primarily in support of their National airlines. They moved to Phoenix, AZ in 2004 where they have lived since.

After that came full retirement, doing things he enjoyed, like golf, travel and flying the Christian Eagle, a bi-wing aerobatic airplane owned by him and his close friend Denny.

Bernard is survived by his loving wife Lora, son Brent (Jane/Madison) Cape Coral, FL, daughter Kellee (Gilbert, AZ) stepson Ronnie (Omaha, NB), grandson Connor, granddaughter Ashlee and granddaughter Madison.