Bernice Burnhope Swenson Guertler Gloschat

I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, the third of four children, two brothers and one sister. I attended Ensign, Horace Mann, and West High School, finishing my studies at the University of Utah with a degree in Music Performance. My mother was a concert pianist and taught at the McCune School of Music. Because of my mother’s influence I developed a great love for music. I studied piano from my mother and at age eight I started taking violin lessons. When I was nine years old my older sister, my brother, my mother, and I played the violins together at church and weddings. We did that for about a year but following the death of my father in 1946 we never played together again.  

 From my father I learned honesty and fun. From my mother I learned to crochet, sew, and cook. I loved to work in the garden but was afraid of dogs. 

 During my years in school, I always played in the school orchestra and later spent three summers at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California.  It was at the end of this time that I signed a contract to teach music at Evergreen Jr. High, which I did for three years.  During this time, I signed a contract with the Utah Symphony and played with them for three years.  

 In 1962 I married Klaus Guertler in the Logan Temple, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We met while students at the University of Utah.  He was also a violinist. When our first child, and only daughter, was 3 months old my husband, who was an electrical engineer with Hercules, was transferred to Blacksburg, Virginia.  From there we were sent to Wilmington, Delaware where our first son was born.  In 1965 Klaus signed a contract with Utah Power and Light and we returned to Salt Lake.  We had two more sons and on April 1, 1972 we bought a lovely home on Millcreek Way.  We added three more sons making half a dozen boys and one girl.  

 Klaus and I played violin duets or violin and viola duets, quartets with friends and in community orchestras.  I have sung in ward choirs since I was a young girl and have been a chorister, choir director and performed in stake orchestras.   Klaus and I served a mission in the Swiss Temple in 1998-1999.  

 After my husband died in February 2004, I sold our home and moved to Brookstone.  In May of 2005 to October 2006, I served in the Frankfurt, Germany Temple.  I have worked in the Salt Lake temple, played the organ in church and in the temple and also played my violin in the lobbies of the Joseph Smith Memorial building and the Conference Center.  

 I love to quilt and read good books, swim, walk and be outdoors.  I love the Lord and am grateful for his continuing love and guidance in my life. 

 In 2011 I married Joachim Gloschat. We were together for 10 wonderful years during which we served a mission at Martin’s Cove, spent beautiful summers and cold winters at his homestead in Bigfork, Montana, and visited our now expanded family.  

After his death in 2021, I returned to Salt Lake where I was able to spend two years with my children and grandchildren.  My faith in God and knowledge of the plan He has for us helped me through my last life's lesson.  I love my family dearly and am deeply grateful for the service and companionship they gave me before I returned to reunite with my eternal companion.

                        ~We will dearly miss our mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. Her influence extended far beyond the walls of her own home. Her steadfast faith in God and love of life has influenced us profoundly and will continue to fortify us in the years to come.

Preceded in death by her parents Lucile Burnhope Swenson & Don Edwin Swenson, two brothers Don and Claron Swenson, a daughter in law Vicki Jacobson (Hans), husband Klaus Johannes Christian Guertler, second husband Joachim Alfred Gloschat. She is survived by her sister, Carol (Lynn) Williams, sisters in law Nola and Carol Swenson, her 7 children, Monika (Kurt) Nygaard, Hans Guertler, Christian (Liz) Guertler, Andreas (Fausta) Guertler, Tony (Dona) Guertler, Stefan (Andrea) Guertler, Daniel (Angela) Guertler, 27 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

 A Memorial Service in Celebration of her Life will take place at 1:00 pm January 27, 2024, at the Church 6350 Rodeo Lane, Murray UT, 84121.  A viewing where friends and family may visit will be on Friday, January 26th from 6-8 pm at the same location.

Interment is on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 "N" Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the humanitarian or mission fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.