Bernice Wittnebel

Bernice Elaine Sheppard was born on February 18, 1922, in Badoura, Minnesota. She grew up on a family farm attended rural schools and graduated from Akeley High School in 1939. She then attended St. Cloud Teachers College for one year and St. Cloud School of Business for one year. She moved to Garfield, Minnesota where she was employed as a bookkeeper at the Farmers Cooperative Elevator. Bernice was united in marriage to Walter C. ?Bud? Wittnebel on September 1, 1946 at St. John?s Lutheran Church in Garfield. Following their marriage the couple made their home in Garfield and she continued being a bookkeeper at the Farmers Cooperative for 43 years until her retirement in 1985. Mrs. Wittnebel was a longtime member of St. John?s Lutheran Church in Garfield where she served as treasurer, taught Sunday School and was active in Ladies Aid. Bud died in March of 2002. After his death Bernice moved to Alexandria and then to Stewartville, MN to be near her daughter. She enjoyed fishing, playing piano, canning, playing cards and telling stories of her families history. Bernice died on Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the Sunrise Cottages in Rochester, MN where she had resided for the last four years. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Paul) Pedersen of Stewartville; son, Gregory of New Hope, MN; step-daughter, Patricia (Wayne) Nelson of Hoffman, MN; thirteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, sister, Evelyn Lockman of Carlton, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Nora (Westby) Sheppard, son, Thomas, grandson, David; two sisters: Elizabeth Werner and infant sister, Betty. Funeral services were held on Monday, November 17, 2008, 1:00 p.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Garfield with Rev. Shawn Ethridge officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery.