She attended grade school at rural Cuming County Dist 78 and graduated from the 8th grade in 1939. After graduation she worked as a hired girl for her sisters and others in the community until she moved to Fremont in 1944 where she was employed at the Woolworth's store. She earned her GED in 1978.
On November 21, 1948 she married Bernard Stumpe at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, West Point. They made their home on the Stumpe family farm until 1990 when they retired from farming and moved to Scribner, NE. It was during this time that Bernice worked for the Scribner Good Samaritan Center in the laundry department.
She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hooper, where she was a member of the WELCA, taught Sunday School, served as the cradle roll superintendent for 45 years, co-sponsored the Jr. Luther League, sang in the choir, served on the Altar Guild and other countless committees, and enjoyed helping make numerous quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She was a 50 year-plus member of the West Logan Extension Club and served for many years on the Dodge County Extension Council. She volunteered her time and talents as a 4-H leader with the Kountry Klovers and Gold Star 4-H clubs for 25 years. She was a Dodge County Fair volunteer for numerous years and helped Lutheran Brotherhood, now Thrivent, with many fund-raising activities. She enjoyed her family, crafting, catering, cake decorating, genealogy, and operating her Stanley Home Products business.
Survivors include: her husband of 60 years; daughters, Marlene (Randall) Geiger, Ames, IA, and Joanne (Ed) Howard, Mesa, AZ; sons, Leroy (Rose), Hartford, SD, Dennis (Polly), Scribner, and Myron (Denise), Hooper; grandchildren, Robin (Scott) Litchfield, Ankeny, IA, David Geiger, Ottumwa, IA, Kristin Geiger, Ames, IA, Andy (Marissa) Rippentrop, Sioux Falls, SD, Michael Parker, Albuquerque, NM, Renee (Freddie) Velasquez, Mesa, AZ, Deann (Greg) Gayman, Hastings, Steven Stumpe, Ames, IA, Tina Stumpe, Sioux City, IA, and Jeffrey Stumpe, Hooper; great-grandchildren, Tristin, Cassidy, Greydin, and Clayton Rippentrop and Lico Velasquez; a sister, Alta Jelinski, Little Falls, MN; brothers, Orville (Doris) Fehrer, Lyons, and Melvin (Judy) Fehrer, West Point; brother-in-laws, Aaron Peters and Lorence Stumpe, Scribner, and Marvin (Karen) Stumpe, Oklahoma City, OK; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Darlene Peters, Loretta Goodwin, and Thelma Anderson; and one great-grandson, Christopher Rippentrop.
Celebration of Life services will be 10:30am Saturday March 14 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, north of Hooper with Vicar Judy Johnson officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 3pm to 8pm with the family receiving friends from 6pm to 8pm at Ludvigsen's Scribner Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. Paul Elevator Fund.
Online guestbook at www.hooper-scribner.com
Condolences(2)
Michele Pitt
OKC, OK Friday, March 13, 2009 Uncle Bernard and Cousins: I know it is a difficult time for you: losing your matriarch. She was a lady who loved her family and their history and I have so enjoyed looking at the information she collected over the years about the Stumpes. I will be thinking of you in that beautiful country church on Saturday. What a lovely place to rest. My prayers are with you all. Michele (Stumpe) PittBruce Schut and family
Scribner, NE Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Bernie and family, We will truly miss Berniece as we always enjoyed seeing her outside in the warmer weather and taking a few moments for a gentle wave or a conversation about flowers or other beauty in God's creation. May the beautiful message of resurrection hope which we see in the coming celebration of our Lord's Resurrection at Easter, comfort you all as you trust that faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior gives us assurance of a home in heaven. God's peace to you all as the Lord has received Berniece into everlasting rest and peace in His presence. Pastor Bruce, Jan, Jordan, and Micah Schut