Frances Edith (Palmer) BERNS

BERNS, PALMER, ALLEN, VILETA, BOATMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/7/2013 at 11:40:33

May 5, 1934 ----April 1, 2013

BELMOND — Frances Berns, age 78, of Belmond passed away Monday, April 1, 2013, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital of Belmond. Memorial visitation for Frances Berns will be from 3 until 5 p.m. Monday April 8, 2013, at the Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane S., Belmond. Inurnment will take place in the Belmond Cemetery at 5 p.m. on Monday.

Frances Edith, the daughter of Ward Sr. and Ennis C. Allen Palmer, was born May 5, 1934, in Belmond. Frances grew up in Belmond, where she attended school. Frances graduated from Belmond High School in 1952. Frances was united in marriage to Robert W. Berns on July 11, 1952, in Wichita Falls, Texas. The couple made their home on several U.S. Air Force bases until returning to Belmond in 1955. Frances worked as a housewife and mother. She also worked at the Acco Seed Co. Mail Department in Belmond and the Federal Land Bank in Clarion. In 1985, the couple moved to Belle Plaine, Iowa, where they would own and operated the very successful “Sharkees Bait and Liquor Store.”

After Bob’s death in 2007, Fran continued to run the store. After selling the business in 2010, Frances returned to Belmond in 2011. She lived at the Belmond Community Apartments. Frannie loved to sew and quilt, and has made numerous quilts over the years for family and friends. She was an avid reader and had a great sense of humor. She is remembered as a people person, who lived her life as an open book and never knew a stranger.

Frances is survived by her children, Robert and wife, Roxanne, of Belmond, Brian and wife, Kim, of Jefferson, Lisa Vileta of Marengo; two grandchildren: Brandon (Emily) and Mandi; sister-in-law, Vernadean and Dallas Boatman of Portland, Ore.; brother-in-law, Ted and Nancy Berns of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; a special family friend, Bob Vileta; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob in 2007; grandson, Anthony; daughter-in-law, Connie; two sisters and a brother. Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane S., Belmond, Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
April 7, 2013