Bernice Katherine Sherry, 92, of Crookston, died early Wednesday morning at the Riverview Memory Care unit, where she had moved to just over a month ago.
Bernice’s faith-filled life began on May 27, 1930, when she was born to Werner and Minnie (Behlke) Schulz, in the home that her father built on the original Schulz family homestead west of Euclid, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Euclid and attended the Euclid country school until the 8th grade when she graduated. Bernice worked on her parent’s farm and also did house-keeping for neighbors. She rarely sat idle whether working in the house, the garden, milking cows, or tending to other farm animals; all while growing up with her 5 siblings: Harold, Martin, Edna, Arlene, and Clifford Schulz.
As a young woman, Bernice caught the eye of a tall, handsome farmer from nearby Tabor named James Clarence Sherry. They were united in marriage on October 11, 1950. Bernice and Jim settled in the Schulz family home to begin farming while her parents built a new homestead on the other side of Euclid. Their union would be blessed in coming years by the birth of a son, Greg, in 1963 and daughter, Debbie, in 1968. They spent many years creating family memories on the farm and on their family car trips every summer. The couple continued to farm and Bernice was just as comfortable doing crafts such as ceramics and crocheting in her home as she was jumping onto a tractor or truck. After their retirement in 1985 and in keeping with family tradition, they moved to a new home in Crookston in 1987 so that Greg, and his wife, Jana, could raise their family on the Schulz family homestead.
Bernice and Jim could often be seen dancing the waltz or a polka on the weekends. Most of all they enjoyed just spending time together with their children and 6 grandchildren. They remained members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Euclid where Bernice enjoyed participating in many Ladies Aide group activities. They also went on several senior citizen bus trips to different cities around the country. Jim passed away on August 27, 1998.
Bernice is lovingly survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Jana Sherry of Euclid; daughter and son-in-law, Deb and Joe Altepeter of Euclid; and 6 grandchildren: Kayla (Alan) Altepeter, Savannah (Kyle) Prodzinski, Alex (Kelsey) Sherry, Clay (Emily) Altepeter, Taylor Altepeter, and Abbie Altepeter. She was also extremely proud of her 5 great-grandsons: Aaron Altepeter, Broderick, Lexington, Odin Prodzinski, and Connor Sherry; with another great-grandchild expected in November. Bernice also leaves a sister, Arlene (Dale) Huot of Thief River Falls, MN; and brother, Clifford (Lindy) Schulz of Euclid.; and 2 sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law: Delores Schulz of Euclid, Eunice Schulz of Grygla, MN, and Sidney Anderson of Fisher, MN.; together with many nieces and nephews.
When Bernice married Jim she was welcomed with open arms by his large family and is survived by several in-laws including: Grace Griffen of Carmichael, CA, Ardell Sherry of Dresden, KS, Ulrica Sherry of Richfield, MN, George Habermann of Kandiyohi, MN, Bob and Darlene Sitko of Stillwater, MN, and David and Ethel Sherry of Clitherall, MN
In addition to her beloved husband, Jim, Bernice is preceded in death by a precious granddaughter, Morgan Rae Altepeter, who died on May 15, 1996; her parents, Werner and Minnie Schulz; brothers, Harold and Martin Schulz; sister, Edna Anderson; parents-in-law, James M. and Anna Sherry; and Jim’s siblings: Judy Sherry, Irene Brock, Delbert Sherry, Andrew Sherry, May McGraw, Mary Lou Habermann, Martha (Anton) Kotrba, and Ruth (Albert) Kotrba. May God richly bless the memory of Bernice Katherine Sherry.
The funeral service for Bernice Sherry will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, September 17, 2022, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN, with the Rev. Steve Bohler, officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. The funeral will be live-streamed by going to Bernice’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. Burial will take place in St. Paul’s Cemetery, rural Euclid, MN.
Messages of condolence may be given to Bernice’s family on the Stenshoel-Houske website.
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