Bernice M. Nafe 1922 - 2014

NAFE, OFSTAD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/10/2014 at 20:19:24

Sioux City Journal
25 September 2014

PIERSON, Iowa | Bernice M. Nafe, 92, of Pierson passed away Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, at Kingsley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Kingsley, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Meadow Star United Methodist Church rural Washta, Iowa. The Rev. Len Garrison will officiate. Burial will be in Grand Meadow Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Johnson–Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley. Visitation will resume 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com.

Bernice Nafe was born to Alfred and Bertina Ofstad on Feb.15, 1922, on a farm in Union County, Hudson, S.D. Bernice walked to Normana and East View rural schools in Lincoln County and graduated from Hudson High School. She received a B.S. degree from South Dakota State University in Brookings. Bernice taught junior high and high school science and mathematics in Springfield and Wessington Springs, S.D., and in Early, Iowa.

Bernice married Raymond Lloyd Nafe on July 29, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. To this union three children were born, George Evan, Nancy Tena and Gwendolyn Ann Nafe.

Bernice was always doing something nice for someone else and tried to help many people with kindness. She grew large flower and vegetable gardens. Lloyd and Bernice gave away huge amounts of sweet corn, pop corn, tomatoes, apples and melons over the years. She was very knowledgeable about plants and science. She did many things well but she was best known for her cooking, baking and sewing. Bernice farmed with her husband until they retired in 1993. Bernice enjoyed quilting with the Meadow Star United Methodist Quilters.

Bernice was a former member of Eastern Star and a 50-year member of GFWC\Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs, where she held many offices over the years. She was an active member of the Good Hope Club in Correctionville, Iowa. Bernice was a longtime and active member of the Meadow Star Women’s Club. She also held office and served on many committees. She worked hard on school kits for the United Methodist Ingathering each fall. Bernice was very active in mission work.

Bernice is survived by her husband, Lloyd; a son, George (Pam) Nafe of Sioux City; a daughter, Nancy (Russel) Todd of rural Bronson, Iowa; a granddaughter, Veronica L. Gevik of Cedar Falls, Iowa; a stepdaughter, Jane (Todd) DeMoss of Sergeant Bluff and their sons, Jack, Gage and Sam; a stepson, Nate (Krista) Gevik of Sioux City and their daughters, Natalie, Olivia and Abbey; and her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Nafe of Pierson, and Janet Lindsay of Pontiac, Ill.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Gwendolyn Ann Nafe; a son-in-law, Gary L. Gevik; a brother, Carl Ofstad; her sisters, Helen Ofstad Irwin and Joyce Ofstad Rowse; two brothers-in-law, Dale Nafe, Marvin Lindsay, Harold Irwin and Jerry Rowse; and a sister-in-law, Helga Ofstad.

Memorials will be directed to the Heifer Project International and the United Methodist Ingathering