Bernice Winter

Bernice was born on June 9, 1917, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Loddie and Lena (Smith) Matejka.  The family moved to Donnelly, Minnesota when Bernice was a little girl.  At a very young age she moved in with her Aunt Tillie to be closer to school.  She was the oldest of thirteen children.

Bernice was united in marriage to Eldred Winter on June 18, 1941 in Morris, MN.  To this union three sons were born: LuVern, Robert and Mark.  The couple lived in rural Cyrus on a small farm.  Bea also worked at the restaurant in Morris.  In 1962, the couple moved to Alexandria where she ran Winter’s Resort on Lobster Lake for over 40 years.  She also waitressed at the Algon Ballroom in Alexandria.

Grandma Bea loved to grow flowers and vegetable gardens.  She canned everything she could get her hands on up to about 2 years ago.  She was an awesome cook and baker who taught many people how to make lefse.  Bea enjoyed hosting big family picnics where there was always more than enough food.  Grandma Bea was a talented seamstress.  Her handiwork included lots of mending for the boys, making quilts for the missions and baby quilts for every newborn at her church.  She crocheted caps and made quilts and brought them to the local hospital for the newborn babies.  She did beautiful cross stitch projects.

In Grandma Bea’s spare time she enjoyed rowdy card games, playing bingo, going on casino trips and doing scratch off tickets.  Grandma was a very avid fisher lady.  Bernice loved Jesus and did Bible Study up to the end.  She was a woman of great faith.

Grandma Bea died on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at the age of 103 ½.  Bea made sure everyone had her correct age.   She is survived by her three boys: Robert (wife, Katie), Luvern (wife, Kathy), Mark (wife, Cindy); grandchildren: Stefania Winter, John (Miranda) Winter, Andy (Suzie) Winter, Noelle von Tesmar, Jennifer Lenarz, Emily Lenarz, Kevin Winter, Kari (Tony) Hernandez; 8 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild; siblings: Clarence, Lu, Betty, Wayne, Winne, Vernon; several nieces, nephews, cousins and tons of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eldred; grandson, Benjamin; siblings: Lillian, Roy, Jeanette, Evelyn, Bonnie, Glenn.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021, 4-6 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.  Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 1, 2021, 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Church.  Burial will be at Summit Cemetery in Morris.  The service will be lived streamed for those unable to attend.  CDC guidelines of social distancing and wearing of masks will be followed.