Bernice L Holen

Funeral Services for Bernice L. Holen will be conducted from Westmark Evangelical Free Church, north of Loomis, Nebraska on Friday, October 10, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. with the Reverend Rick Smith, and Wayne Carlson officiating. Interment will be in the Sandstrom Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

Bernice Lucille Holen, 93 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Bernice was born November 6, 1914 in Keya Paha County, near Springview, Nebraska, the sixth of seven children to Wallace and Selma (Johnson) Wohlgemuth. At a young age the family moved to Kearney County, northeast of Wilcox, Nebraska and then settled to a farm west of Funk, Nebraska. Bernice attended rural school District #53 west of Funk and then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1933. Following her education, she helped her father on the family diary farm until she was married.

On February 20, 1935 she was united in marriage to Milford Benjamin Holen and they made their home on a farm in the Westmark Community, north of Bertrand, Nebraska. To this union four children were born: Virginia, JoDean, Bruce and James. Bernice enjoyed her life on the farm caring for her children and working side-by-side with Milford. Following their retirement in 1977, the couple moved to Holdrege and Bernice worked at the hospital for six years in food service. She also volunteered her time and efforts at Holdrege Memorial Homes and the Christian Homes Care Community. On February 27, 1991, she was preceded in death by her husband, Milford.

Bernice was a member of the Westmark Evangelical Free Church and enjoyed many friendship bonds formed through the years in the Westside Birthday Club.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her granddaughter, Kimberly Sue Anderson; four brothers: Ivan, Earl, Russell and Paul Wohlgemuth and their wives and two sisters: Naomi Holen and her husband and sister, Louise in infancy.

She leaves to mourn her passing her four children: Virginia Holthus and her husband, Kelly of York, Nebraska, JoDean Anderson and her husband, Harry of Denton, TX, Bruce Holen and his wife, Jan of Bertrand, and James Holen and his wife, Betty of Lincoln, Nebraska; 9 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law: Rachael Bard of Holdrege and Betty Holen of Bertrand; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

Bernice will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Thursday, October 9, 2008 from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.