Berniece Testerman

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 16, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church, Wessington with Rev. Allen Sager officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery, rural Wessington. Visitation was held from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 15, 2009 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at Reck Funeral Home in Miller.

Berniece was born in Wessington on November 24, 1922, the second of five children born to Edward and Alma (Havekost) Moller. She was raised on a farm north of Wessington and attended grade school at the Brown School in Gilbert Township until her family moved into Wessington. Berniece graduated from Wessington High School in 1940. She later married her high school sweetheart, Russel Testerman, on June 27, 1942. They moved to Maryland, where Russel worked at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, and Myrna joined their family shortly thereafter. Not long after, Russel joined the army. While he served in Europe, Berniece and Myrna lived with Grover and Mattie Testerman in South Dakota. Their second daughter, Jerry, was born the day WWII ended in Europe. After the end of the war in 1946, Russel and Berniece returned to South Dakota, and began farming near and later on the Testerman homestead. Their sons, Douglas and Larry, joined the family in 1950 and 1952 respectively.

Berniece and Russel enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends over the years. They retired from farming in 1990 and moved to the Miller Plaza in 2000. They lived at Courtyard Villa Assisted Living for three years. On Sept 4, 2008, Berniece entered the Miller Good Samaritan Center.

She was a member of the Rose Hill Presbyterian Church. She was active in UPW and served as an Elder in the church and as a Sunday school and Bible school teacher. She was a member of the Watson-Krauter American Legion Auxiliary and a District officer. Berniece was a member of the Order of Eastern Star of Wessington and a Grand Officer in Eastern Star. She was a member of the Busy Women Extension Club and on the Board of Directors of the Farm Home Administration

Berniece loved to fish, play cards, and visit with family and friends. Family was very important to Berniece – all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren returned to South Dakota to visit her in the last months of her life.

Berniece's memory will be cherished by her children Myrna (Roger) Bertsch of St. Lawrence; Jerry (Terry) Meek of Webster, and Douglas (JoAnn) Testerman of St. Lawrence; 10 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandson; sister, Irene(Nova) Palmer, sister-in-law, Evelyn Moller, and brother-in-law, Bob Eichstadt. Berniece was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russel on September 17, 2008; son, Larry; great granddaughter, Regan Burkett; sister, Mildred Eichstadt; brothers, Gene and Eddie Moller.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Berniece's arrangements.

MINSTER
Rev. Allen Sager

CASKETBEARERS: Grandchildren
Randall Bertsch
Kent Bertsch
Suzanne (Bertsch) Keck
Dianne (Bertsch) Neyens
Marty Bertsch
Terrisa (Meek) Fisher
Sarah (Meek) Sadrkhanlou
Andrew Meek
Doyce Testerman
Bonnie (Testerman) Burkett

HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
Rose Hill Church Family
Watson-Krauter American Legion Auxiliary 
Eastern Star

PIANIST
Tom Koth    
     "Just A Closer Walk With Thee"

ORGANIST
Janet Fritzsche 

DUET
David & Lori Fremark   
     "Old Rugged Cross"    
     "Amazing Grace"

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
     "God Be with you till We Meet Again"