Bernice Pauline Puppe

Bernice Pauline Puppe was born October 7, l909 on a farm near Mekinock, ND to Harvey and Bella (Neste)Burtness. She went to grade school in Mekinock and attended Ness Lutheran Church. After graduating from Grand Forks Central High School in l927 she worked for the Northern Packing Company in Grand Forks and wrote checks to the farmers who brought in their cattle, hogs and sheep for sale. It was there that she met Arthur Puppe; they were married Oct. 17, 1937 and she moved to the farm near Hensel where they farmed until the mid 60's.
Her life was made rich with memories of her family, friends and relatives, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Some of the highlights of her younger years included her beloved pony Prince, church events, winning a trophy for cross country skiing, knitting socks and mittens for the WWI soldiers, folding bandages for the Red Cross during the war, a trip to the 1936 World's Fair in Chicago and cooking for the "threshing crew". A lot of meat, potatoes, vegetables were prepared , and always dessert, preferably pie. She loved to make donuts and guests could always count on having a sugared hot donut with their coffee.
As a homemaker, she raised five children, loved to garden, grow flowers, preserve fruits and vegetables, made "tons" of chokecherry jelly, helped her husband make sausage and can meat and chickens. She was involved in community activities by serving on the boards for Hospital Auxiliary, Senior Citizens, Farmer's Union, Homemakers, the Long Range Planning Committee for Pembina County Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, St. Thomas, where, as a young bride, was instrumental in uniting the men and women for the church service. Previously the men sat on one side of the church and the women on the other. She insisted on sitting with her husband, other women followed her example shortly. She was active in LWML and was a former Sunday school teacher.
She enjoyed poetry and readings and was often asked to present at programs. She loved to entertain at dinners and coffee parties using her collection of bone china cups and saucers, bake her favorite Olive Ann cookies, attend church and Farmer's Union camps and conventions, play cards, and , when her vision was better, sew , read, crochet, and make afghans for her children and grandchildren.
Bernice loved North Dakota and was always a promoter for the state. Several years ago she answered a request in the newspaper from a school in New Mexico wanting information from every state. She wrote pages for them about all areas of ND and especially the Red River Valley and she was especially touched by the wonderful hand-made thank you card she received signed by all the class. She loved patriotic music and was especially pleased when entertained by her children.
She moved to Cavalier in l980 and lived with her Country Estates family until June, 2006 when she entered Wedgewood Manor.
Preceding her in death were her husband, brother Orlando Burtness, Grand Forks; sisters Edna Johnson, Mekinock, Evelyn Veker, Fertile, MN., daughter-in-law Marsha Puppe.

Bernice is survived by her five children , seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren: Gerald Puppe, Steven (Megan), and daughters, Madison and Sydney, Olathe, KS; Alyce (Brian)Waverly, Gladstone, OR; Harvey (Maureen) Puppe, Hensel, Kristi, Grand Forks and Jon(Jen) and twins Mason and Maci, Cavalier; Russell(Deborah) Puppe, Greensboro, GA, Kevin (Gen), NJ, and sons Ayden, Cooper, and Bowden, Susan(Mark) Wentker, GA and daughter Alison and son Ryan; Dennis (Michelle), Hatfield, MO, Travis and Cassandra, Blaine, MN; Sister-in-law Ella Puppe, Cavalier, ND.
Bernice Pauline Puppe, 104, died Monday, October 28, 2013, at Wedgewood Manor, Cavalier. Visitation will be at the Askew Funeral Home in Cavalier from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Friday, November 1st. Funeral services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, rural St. Thomas, ND on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be held in the St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery.
Clergy, Rev. Mark Chepulis; Music, Sharon Ganssle, Organist; Casket Bearers: Wayne Burtness, Carlton Ill, Donald Johnson, Jim Puppe, Jon Puppe, Kevin Puppe, Steven Puppe, Travis Puppe; Honorary Pallbearers: All of Bernice's Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.