RAPID CITY- Berniece Eileen Timmons passed peacefully away on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, surrounded by her family at St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids, MN.

She was born Berniece Eileen Miller, on September 5, 1927, to Walter and Kathryn (Judson) Miller in Viewfield, South Dakota. She grew up on the family ranch located North of New Underwood  and attended a one-room school, Red Top elementary. While attending New Underwood High School, she met and fell in love with her future husband Tom Timmons. Tom was drafted and sent to Europe to fight in WW II. However he miraculously found a way to call Bernice from France, where he was stationed and propose marriage to her over the phone.   While waiting for him to return home, she briefly taught at Red Top Elementary school, in Viewfield.

After his discharge, they were married by Father Quinn in New Underwood on January 4, 1947. For the next twenty-five years, Berniece was a Homemaker and stay-at-home mom, dedicated to raising her four children. After the children were grown, she worked as the bookkeeper in the family business, The Crystal Lounge.

After her husband's death in October 2014, Berniece moved to Lake Itasca, MN to live with her daughter, Cathy.

Berniece was a warm fun loving woman who enjoyed visiting with friends, neighbors, and relatives. She was a devote Catholic and a member of the Catholic Daughters. She loved league bowling, sewing and was also a skilled artisan who loved painting and ceramics. However her most beloved hobby was shopping, a love she passed on to her two daughters.

Berniece is survived by her children: Tom and Pat of Koloa, HI; Jill and Bob Miner of Las Vegas, NV; Craig and Mae of Eugene, OR, and Cathy and Charlie Schmidgall of Lake Itasca, MN. She is survived by her sister, Joan Nichols, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, her parents; sister Evelyn Forney and her brother Governor Walter Dale Miller; and two infant siblings: Mary Ellen and Glenn.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with a Christian wake service and rosary at 7:00 p.m.

A Christian Funeral Mass celebrating her life will be offered at 10:00 am on Monday, April 18 at St. Therese Catholic Church.

Berniece's cremains will be buried next to her husband in Mountain View Cemetery.