Bernice
Vatsaas, 91
Thief
River Falls - Bernice Vatsaas, 91, died on
Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at Northwest Medical
Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral
services were held Monday, Dec. 8, at Oak Ridge
Lutheran Church of rural Thief River Falls, with
Reverend Tim Bauer officiating. Casket bearers
included Josh Tangen, Mike Hallstrom, Dustin
Erickson, Nick Swanson, Kyle Swanson and Jason
Olson. Interment will be held in Oak Ridge Cemetery
of rural Thief River Falls.
Bernice
Orella Olson was born on October 4, 1912 in
Kensett, Iowa, the daughter of Sam and Johanna
(Jorgenson) Olson. She was baptized, confirmed and
attended school in Iowa.
Bernice
was united in marriage to Bendick Vatsaas on
October 16, 1930 at Lake Park The couple farmed for
a short time near Hitterdal. In 1939 they moved to
Pennington County and settled on a farm near Thief
River Falls, where they resided until Bendick's
death in 1967. Following Bendick's death Bernice
moved into Thief River Falls, where she has since
resided.
She was a
member of Oak Ridge Lutheran Church and served that
church in various capacities. Bernice was a 4-H
Leader of the Steiner 4-H Club for many years. In
1979 she received the "Friend of 4-H Award".
Bernice also cooked at Lake Sarah 4-H Camp for over
20 years.
Bernice
worked at Peterson Biddick for 17 years and in
other various jobs. She loved spending time with
her grandchildren, great grandchildren and her many
friends. Each one was very special to Bernice.
Surviors
include three sons, Bendick (Lou) of Tacoma, Wash.,
Duane (Pauline) of Thief River Falls, and Jerry
(Judy) of Rogersville, Tenn.; three daughters, Inga
Kennedy of Winston Salem, N.C., JoAnn (DelRay)
Offerdahl of Thief River Falls and Patricia
(Richard) Kjensrud of Newfolden; 22 grandchildren;
53 great-grandchildren; one brother, Stanley Olson
of Fargo, N.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
She was
preceded in death by her husband; one son in
infancy; one sister, Gladys Peterson; one brother,
Emil Olson; one son-in-law, James Kennedy; one
daughter-in-law, Juanita Vatsaas; and one grandson.
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