HANNIBAL, MO. -- Family members and friends of the late Ralls County Sheriff Ben Berghager met in Hannibal Sunday morning for a special ceremony. A portion of Highway 61 was dedicated to Berghager, an honor given to only one other person in the highway's history.
"My dad passed away four years ago. He was the acting sheriff in Ralls County for 12 years," said Kimberly Bush. "He died while he was at work, I believe of an aneurism. But he died doing what he loved. We're just dedicating the highway in his honor."
Just south of Red Devil Road in Hannibal, dozens of Berghager's family and friends gathered in his honor in a place he knew well.
"He grew up in this county. Everyone always has a story about him and he was just an awesome guy. It will just make people remember him and keep him in their thoughts," said Bush.
One by one, the ropes were released to unveil a memorial almost two years in the making, with help from MoDOT.
"Lord, the wait was worth it," said Marilyn Berghager, standing amongst her family at her late husband's memorial.
With his memory cemented forever in her heart, it's now cemented on Highway 61.
"I'm so honored for Ben that I can't even find the words," said Berghager.
After the dedication ceremony, Berghager's family got together and ate 475 cookies.When asked what those were, his granddaughter said that 475 was his badge number.
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