Van Baren, Bernice – 1912-2011

VAN BAREN

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:34

Bernice Van Baren passed away November 12, 2011.
Bernice Van Baren was born on June 8, 1912, in Monroe, Iowa, to Edward and Christina Van Baren. Her father was a farmer. Her grandparents immigrated to the USA from Holland around 1860 for religious freedom. When Bernice was 13 years of age, her brother died of pneumonia at 17 years of age.
After graduation from Pella High School in 1929, Bernice went on to earn a B.A. degree from John Fletcher College in Iowa. She also earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Chicago followed by two years of teaching high school business courses. She then went to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where she devoted much of her lifetime, first as a student of Bible and Music and for 18 years serving as Assistant Dean of Women.
In 1955 she met her longtime friend, Edna Conway, who she described as “congenial housemate”. They moved to Saratoga, California in 1967. For a couple of years Bernice worked in Real Estate Sales and until Bernice’s retirement in 1984, she worked as a proofreader for College Textbook Publishers. Following retirement she and Edna traveled extensively in the USA and abroad. Bernice and Edna prayed for and actively supported missionaries, primarily from Valley Church in Cupertino where they were members. She and Edna were representatives for David and Beth Penney for many years and visited them when they were serving in Senegal, West Africa.
Source: Monroe Legacy; Thursday, January 12, 2012