RUNDE, Bernice L. (Milbrandt) 1925-2015

RUNDE, MILBRANDT, JOHANNS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/4/2015 at 23:14:44

Bernice L. Runde

Death date: June 3, 2015

Obituary:

Bernice Runde, 89, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center in Riceville, Iowa.

Bernice was born August 2, 1925, in Howard County Iowa, to Lawrence and Louise (Johanns) Milbrandt. She grew up on a farm with four other siblings. Bernice attended country school and graduated from McIntire High School in 1943. As a student, Bernice was known as a good speller, a math wizard, an excellent typist, and an athlete who shined on the basketball court.

Bernice married James Linton Runde on February 5, 1945, at St. Mel’s Catholic Church in McIntire, IA. They purchased a farm in the McIntire area and spent the next forty-seven years there, working side by side on their diversified farmstead and raising their family.

Bernice thoroughly loved her agrarian roots and was very contented living in a small, rural community. Over the years, she was a volunteer leader for the Jenkins Sunshine 4-H Club; a member and president of St. Mel’s Altar Society; a volunteer with the Riceville Nursing Home Auxiliary; an honorary member of St. Anne’s Altar Society; a member of the Riceville American Legion Auxiliary, Post 244; and a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Riceville. For a past time, Bernice loved trout fishing along the banks of the Wapsipinicon River that wound its way through their farm land.

Bernice was very devoted to her faith, her family and her friends. She was a gentle soul with a humble heart. Bernice always put others first and quickly offered a helping hand to those in need. She was also an avid gardener. Bernice always had a well manicured lawn, a big garden with rows and rows of vegetables and berries, and several perennial beds that bloomed all summer long.

Bernice was also known for her wonderful culinary talents, and she made her kitchen the heart of her home. She loved baking and cooking and canning for her family and friends. No one left the Runde household without sitting down at the kitchen table to visit with Bernice and stopping to enjoy a fresh baked cookie, a piece of cake, or a slice of fruit pie and a hot cup of coffee.
In retirement, Bernice loved senior citizen activities; playing cards; crocheting; swapping recipes and crochet patterns with her sisters, Kate and Lucille; spending time with family and friends; or cheering for the Riceville Wildcats and Iowa Hawkeyes.

Bernice is survived by her six daughters, Mary (Charles) Oviatt; Donna (Ron) Fritsch; Rose (Dennis) Kinsley; Patricia (Steve) Stensrud; and Beverly Timmons, all of Rochester, Minnesota; and Catherine (Rick) Adams, of Riceville, Iowa. Bernice is also survived by 21 loving grandchildren and 35 precious great-grandchildren; two sisters, Kathleen Hemann and Lucille Werner, both of Osage, Iowa; and one brother, Robert Milbrandt, of Rochester, Minnesota.

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents, Lawrence and Louise Milbrandt; her step-mother, Florence Milbrandt; her brother, Ralph Milbrandt; and her son-in-law, Dennis Kinsley.

Visitation:
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Riceville, Iowa.

Service:
10:30 am on Monday, June 8, 2015 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Riceville, Iowa.

Cemetery:
Calvary, Cemetery, Riceville, Iowa

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home website