Hazel Bernard, age 90, of Erskine, MN, passed away on Thursday, September 3rd, at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 10th, at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with the Rev. Michael Sletto officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Erskine. Visitation will be held from Noon until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church. Covid-19 protocol will be followed and mask-wearing is required. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.
Hazel Eva Thompson was born May 18, 1930, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Thompson in Rochester, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. She grew up in the Rochester area, living with her family in Eyota, Plainview, and finally Chatfield, Minnesota where she graduated from high school in 1948. She enrolled in the secretarial program at Rochester Junior College and graduated in 1949.
She was united in marriage to Gerald E. Bernard on August 31, 1949, in Chatfield, where they farmed. They moved to Backus, Minnesota in 1958 where they continued farming. In 1964 they moved to Erskine and opened a real estate office with United Farm Agency where they earned several trips and received many awards for outstanding salesmanship. Eventually, they started their own agency called MN Real Estate Investments. In 1980, they began an art gallery and framing business, Pine to Prairie Art, where Hazel took great care in coordinating mats and frames for each piece.
Hazel’s family was very important to her. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She cherished time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a wonderful Christian example to all. She was active at Grace Lutheran Church with Bible Studies, Ladies Aid, Quilting Group, Circle, the Church Board and choir. She was also active in her community, participating in Homemakers, Birthday clubs, Christian Women’s, and Red Hatters, and especially enjoyed social outings and card playing with her friends. She took great pleasure in sitting in her favorite chair, reading, solving crosswords and bird watching.
She is survived by her 5 children; Steven (Gay) Bernard, Conrad, MT, Bonnie (Joe) Nichols, McIntosh, Dean, Erskine, Donald (Barbara) Bernard, Oklee, and Diane (Joel) Wagner, Fisher.
11 grandchildren; Matthew (Gerna) Bernard, Thomas (Julie) Bernard, James Nichols (Mary Olson), Mark Nichols, Lindsey (Daren) Asp, Lauren (Rob) Collins, Christopher (Katie) Bernard, Amanda Wagner, Paul Wagner, Samuel Wagner, and Seth Wagner. 17 great-grandchildren Karen, David, Morgan, Mikah, Jamison, Madison, Ryan, Emerson, Esther, Corbin, Petra, Oliver, Bella, Elliana, Caleb, Olivia, and Carson, her sister Joanne Berg of Madison, WI, sisters-in-law Arla Bernard, Shirley Bernard and Mary Bernard and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Hazel was preceded in death by her husband Jerry in 1996, her parents, and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
May God bless the memory of Hazel Eva Bernard.
