PHIPPS, Bernice E.

PHIPPS, ERLANDSON, BENSON, ANDERSON, RYDEN, NEIMEYER, ERICKSON, WILSON, FREED

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 9/10/2007 at 21:52:54

Bernice E. Phipps, 91, died Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007, at Country Side Estates in Cherokee, following a brief illness.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, with Pastor James Steen officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, with the family present 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences may be left at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

Bernice was born March 11, 1916, in Cherokee, to Joel and Hedvig (Erlandson) Benson. She attended school in Cherokee, graduating from Wilson High School in 1934. Bernice was the first "Miss Cherokee" in 1937.

On Sept. 10, 1942, she married Frank Phipps in Cherokee. He preceded her in death on April 6, 1988. Bernice's first job was working the snack bar at Spring Lake Park many years ago. She also worked for J.C. Penney's in Cherokee and a dress shop.

Bernice was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and was also a charter member.

Survivors include her sisters, Martha Anderson and Lucille Ryden and her husband, Art, all of Cherokee; nephews, Denny Anderson and his wife, Patty of Larrabee, Iowa, and Gary Ryden and his wife, Janet of Spokane, Wash.; nieces, Jolene Neimeyer and her husband, Roger of Perry, Iowa, Linda Erickson and her husband, John of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Joann Wilson and her husband, Russ of Ames, Iowa; and a cousin, Opal Freed of Calumet, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank; cousins, Beulah Freed and Raymond Erlandson; and a brother-in-law, Elmer Anderson.

Memorials are requested for the Bethlehem Lutheran Church.