Bernice Westendorp
d. February 16, 2022
Bernice Westendorp, age 105, of Clara City, Minnesota passed away Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at the Clara City Care Center.
Funeral Service will be held Friday, February 18, 2022, at 1:00 PM at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Bernice was born on July 16, 1916, and passed away at the Clara City Care Center on February
16, 2022. Bernice was born in Chippewa County near Maynard/Clara City, Minnesota the
second youngest of five children with her siblings Fred, Florence, Lilly and Annie all preceding
her in their passing after having enjoyed a long life.
On December 30, 1936, Bernice was united in marriage to George Harm Westendorp at the
parsonage of Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City. Dennis, their first-born son, was followed
by their second son Leslie. Bernice complemented and loved her husband George and
together they orchestrated every aspect of life on their farm while raising their two sons.
Bernice was a whirlwind of energy with her gardens, cooking and baking, cleaning, milking the
cows, raising baby geese and chicks for egg money each year and so on. Bernice deeply loved
her family and friends. And, her special love for animals shows with her children and their
children inheriting the same life long affection. In later years, she worked part-time until she was
eighty, first at a nursing home in Willmar and then at the same nursing home in Clara City where
she lived her final years. She loved living in Clara City and questioned why anyone would wish
to live anywhere else!
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents Kassenus and Foska (Brummer) Aeikens, her
husband George, her son Dennis and her daughter-in-law Mary Ann. She is survived by her
son Leslie (Anne) of Plymouth and her blended extended family of her daughter-in-law Dianne
of Litchfield; grandchildren: Christopher (Tracey) of St. Michael, Jacob (Karen) of Evergreen,
CO, Katrina Smith (Benjamin) of St. Michael, John D. of Excelsior, Heidi Whiting (Charles) of
Crookston, Anthony (Amy) of Minneapolis, Leonard Barry (Jenn) of Madison, WI, David Barry of
Minneapolis, ten great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 18, 2022, at 1:00pm at Bethany Reformed
Church, 222 Main Street N, Clara City, MN 56222.
The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Clara City Care Center for their
excellent and compassionate care provided to our mother/grandmother for nearly a decade.
Funeral Service will be held Friday, February 18, 2022, at 1:00 PM at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Bernice was born on July 16, 1916, and passed away at the Clara City Care Center on February
16, 2022. Bernice was born in Chippewa County near Maynard/Clara City, Minnesota the
second youngest of five children with her siblings Fred, Florence, Lilly and Annie all preceding
her in their passing after having enjoyed a long life.
On December 30, 1936, Bernice was united in marriage to George Harm Westendorp at the
parsonage of Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City. Dennis, their first-born son, was followed
by their second son Leslie. Bernice complemented and loved her husband George and
together they orchestrated every aspect of life on their farm while raising their two sons.
Bernice was a whirlwind of energy with her gardens, cooking and baking, cleaning, milking the
cows, raising baby geese and chicks for egg money each year and so on. Bernice deeply loved
her family and friends. And, her special love for animals shows with her children and their
children inheriting the same life long affection. In later years, she worked part-time until she was
eighty, first at a nursing home in Willmar and then at the same nursing home in Clara City where
she lived her final years. She loved living in Clara City and questioned why anyone would wish
to live anywhere else!
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents Kassenus and Foska (Brummer) Aeikens, her
husband George, her son Dennis and her daughter-in-law Mary Ann. She is survived by her
son Leslie (Anne) of Plymouth and her blended extended family of her daughter-in-law Dianne
of Litchfield; grandchildren: Christopher (Tracey) of St. Michael, Jacob (Karen) of Evergreen,
CO, Katrina Smith (Benjamin) of St. Michael, John D. of Excelsior, Heidi Whiting (Charles) of
Crookston, Anthony (Amy) of Minneapolis, Leonard Barry (Jenn) of Madison, WI, David Barry of
Minneapolis, ten great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 18, 2022, at 1:00pm at Bethany Reformed
Church, 222 Main Street N, Clara City, MN 56222.
The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Clara City Care Center for their
excellent and compassionate care provided to our mother/grandmother for nearly a decade.
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