White, Bernard L. -- 1905 - 1989

WHITE, BRYANT, WELLS, TJOSSEM, COOPER, MARDOCK

Posted By: C Street (email)
Date: 7/3/2006 at 15:28:07

Friends leader dies
The Iowa Friend, Vol. 44, May 1989, page 8

Bernard L. White died suddenly March 31, at his home in Decorah. A life long member of Hesper Friends Meeting, Bernard was born March 12, 1905 near Hesper. He attended school in Hesper and graduated from Mabel (Minnesota) High School in 1923. Bernard married Ruth Bryant, May 9, 1927. In 1928, he formed and operated White's Motor Transport truck line in Harmony, Minnesota and Rochester, Minnesota before settling in Decorah in 1951. After purchasing Waterloo Stages, the trucking business was discontinued. He was president of Hawkeye Stages, Inc.

Bernard has served and supported Friends as a presiding clerk of Iowa Yearly Meeting, as a trustee for William Penn College and Quakerdale Home, he served on the Earlham School of Religion Board and the General Board of Friends United Meeting. Bernard and Ruth have received special recognition for their support of higher Quaker education by William Penn College and Earlham School of Religion.

Survivors are his wife, Ruth; four daughters, Theresa Wells, Kathryn Tjossem, Bernadine Cooper and Myrna Mardock; four sons-in-law; one brother, Orville; 11 grandchidren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Bernard was preceded in death by his paretns, and brother Leland.

Bernard will be greatly missed by Friends. He lived his life with a healthy balance between faith and works. His life was grounded in faith that Jesus was indeed the Christ.