Holstad, Bernice Pearl (1918-2005)

HOLSTAD, SEVLEY, SORBO, PETERSON, ZIEGLER, NEEL, JENSON, HUNTLEY, O’NEIL

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/8/2013 at 08:00:28

Bernice Pearl Holstad
January 17, 1918 - October 16, 2005

BRICELYN, Minnesota. — Bernice Pearl Sevley Holstad, 87, of Bricelyn, Minnesota, died on Sunday, October 16, 2005, at her daughter’s home in Lake Mills.

Bernice Pearl, daughter of Peter and Evelyn (Sorbo) Sevley, was born on January 17, 1918, at her parents’ farm in rural Kiester, Minnesota. Baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kiester and confirmed there on July 26, 1931, by the Rev. J.A. Arneson, she attended school at Kiester, Minnesota.

Bernice worked at Cool Springs Canning Company when she was 16 years old. During that time, she stayed with her Grandpa Henry Sevley whom she loved very much. During the sweet corn harvest, she also worked at the Bricelyn Canning Company.

On July 22, 1939, Bernice married Harry B. Holstad with the Rev. Arneson officiating at the Immanuel Lutheran Church parsonage. Following their marriage, the couple moved to their farm in Eden Township, Winnebago County, Iowa, where they remained for sixty-six years. In 1959, Bernice began working at Deluxe Products (Fleetguard Industries). After nineteen years there, she retired but kept busy on the farm with Harry. She loved operating her John Deere 60!

As a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and caregiver, Bernice had a big, generous heart, even when her own heart didn’t work so well. She loved her home, mowing her lawn, and otherwise taking care of her yard and flowers. Volunteering as Trinity Lutheran Church’s Good Cheer Lady for twenty-eight years, she kept active with WELCA, circle, Sunday school teaching, and the Altar Guild as well. She also belonged to the Kiester Senior Citizens.

Bernice is survived by her four daughters: LeAnn Peterson, and her husband, Roger, of Lake Mills, Barbara Ziegler, of Wells, Minnesota, Mary Lou Neel, and her husband, Harvey A., of Scarville, and Beverly Jenson, and her husband, Gene, of Hayward, Minnesota; her grandchildren, Mark Peterson, and his wife, Sherene, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Michael Peterson, and his wife, Mary Jean, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Mary Jo Huntley, and her husband, Brian, of Victoria, Minnesota, Matthew Peterson, and his wife, Kimberly, of Johnston, Iowa, Van Neel, and his wife, Kristin, of Scottsdale, Arizona, Eric Neel, and his wife, Kris, of Alden, Minnesota, Dawn Jenson, and special friend, Ryan Nolander, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and Denise O’Neil, and her husband, Mike, of Burnsville, Minnesota; nine great-grandchildren: Thomas (T.J.), Katelyn, and Megan Peterson, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Nathan and Nicole Peterson, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Sidney Peterson, of Johnston, Iowa, Brady and Brett Neel, of Alden, Minnesota, and Samuel (Sam) O’Neil, of Burnsville, Minnesota; a new great-grandchild, Baby Huntley, to be born in December; and a sister-in-law, Kathy Sevley, of Kiester, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry, in 1996; three brothers: Harry Sevley, and his wife, Elaine, Alvin Sevley, and Earl Sevley; a son-in-law, Elmer Ziegler; and two nephews, Larry and Dennis Sevley.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Kiester, Minnesota (rural Thompson, Iowa), with the Rev. Chris Fiske officiating. Burial will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. today at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St., Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.

Pallbearers will be Mark Peterson, Michael Peterson, Matthew Peterson, Mary Jo Huntley, Van Neel, Eric Neel, Dawn Jenson, and Denise O’Neil. Honorary bearers will be Donnie Amundson, Ronnie Amundson, Gordon Sevley, Scott Sevley, Jeremy Sevley, and Bruce Hovland.

Copyright © 2005, Mittelstadt Funeral Home

Mittelstadt Funeral Home
 

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