Bernice C. Johnson

Bernice C. Johnson Parker. Bernice C. Johnson, 87, died Monday, November 26, 2007 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home, Viborg. Funeral services will be at 10:00am Saturday, December 1, 2007 at Grace Lutheran Church, Parker with burial in Rosehill Cemetery, Parker. Visitation will be Friday with family present from 7-9:00pm and a Prayer Service at 8:00pm in Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home, Parker. Bernice C. Simonson was born on March 11, 1920 in Turner County, SD, a sister to Selma, to Hagvart and Regina (Jensen) Simonson. After attending Pleasant Ridge Consolidated School for 10 years she graduated from Marion High School in 1938. She received her teaching certificate from Freeman Junior College in 1939 and taught country school in Turner County for 7 years. On November 11, 1945 she was united in marriage to Robert M. Johnson at Bethany Lutheran Church in Hurley. They farmed northeast of Parker for 4 years and in 1950 moved southwest of Parker, farming there until they retired and moved into Parker in 1990. She had been a resident of the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Viborg since 2000. Bernice was a very active member of Grace Lutheran Church having served in all the offices of the women’s group, member of the choir for many years, and from 1939-1979 she served as a Sunday school teacher or Sunday school superintendent. On November 12, 1939 she was confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, Hurley. She was also involved in Parker Band Boosters, Turner County Porkettes, Extension Club, member and officer of the VFW Auxiliary, Neighborhood Club north of town and the Birthday Club south of town, served as a 4-H Leader for 19 years and a 4-H judge at the state and county level. Some of her favorite pastimes included visiting, embroidery and quilting, and following her children’s and grandchildren’s interest by supporting their activies. Grateful for having shared her life are her 5 daughters, Delores Johnson, Sioux Falls, JoAnn Klein and her husband Bob, Conrad, IA, Carol Viet and her husband Ron, Parker, Roberta Stoebner and her husband Doug, Olivet, and Julaine Stratmeyer and her husband Dave, Lennox; 8 grandchildren, Kevin and Tasha Klein, Viborg, Mary and Jeff Chadwick, Chicago, IL, Jeremy Viet, Portland, OR, Matt and Julie Viet, Parker, Paul Stoebner, Sioux Falls, Julie Stoebner, Olivet, Sarah Stratmeyer, Faulkton, and Katie Stratmeyer, Lennox; 3 great grandchildren, Lani, Gavin, and Hailey Klein, Viborg; and brother and sister in laws, Marvin Peterson, Sioux Falls, Harold and Eleanore Johnson, Luverne, MN, Roger and Katheryn Larson, Rapid City, Wilbur and Gladys Johnson, Sioux Falls, and Selmer and Dorothy Ann Johnson, Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert M. Johnson in 2001, a grandson Lee Stratmeyer, her sister Selma, and brother and sister in law, Clifford and Leona Johnson. Memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church, Alzheimer’s Association, or Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home.