Passed Away - Bernice Christiansen

Bernice Christiansen
May 31, 1916 - December 07, 2009
Early, Iowa

Visitation: 5-8:00 p.m., Friday, December 11, 2009 at Farber & Otteman Funeral Home, Sac City.
Funeral Service: Saturday, 10:00 a.m., December 12, 2009 at Faith Lutheran Church, Early
Interment: following the service December 12, 2009 at Odebolt Cemetery


Bernice Mae Christiansen, age 93, of Early, IA, died peacefully surrounded by her family at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA, on December 7, 2009. Bernice was born on May 31, 1916, at her home in rural Odebolt, IA, the daughter of Otto and Lorinda (Dolly) Siebrecht. She was baptized in June, 1916, and was confirmed on May 15, 1944, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Odebolt. Bernice received her grade school education at the Richland Township Country School near Odebolt and her high school education at Odebolt High School. She went to secretarial school after graduation and then worked for 2 years at Firestone in Omaha, NE.


She was courted by Edward Detluf Christiansen and united in marriage on August 2, 1939, in her parent’s home in rural Odebolt. Bernice and Edward had three sons: Richard, Dennis, and Armin. They raised their family on the century old farm 7 miles northeast of Odebolt.


Bernice lived a very full life and touched everyone she made contact with. She was a faithful woman devoting much of her earlier years to activities in the country church. She enjoyed dancing, gardening, canning, baking (apple and rhubarb pies were family favorites), bird watching, crocheting, playing cards and tracking the PGA; namely Tiger Woods. She was always focused on others and never wanted “a fuss” over her needs. She loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was very proud of her 13 great-grandchildren and was quick to tell you the latest news on any one of them. Her witty sense of humor and sharp memory kept everyone on their toes and many times in awe of what she could remember. She was very independent and often the social organizer among her lady friends. Activities that kept her young were driving her car wherever she needed to go, maintaining her house and yard and continuing to garden through her last year with us. She will be dearly missed by all those that knew and loved her.


Left to cherish her memory is her youngest son Armin and wife Dawn Christiansen of Early, IA, daughter-in-law Janet Christiansen of Fonda, IA, grandchildren: Todd (Jean) Christiansen of Laurens, IA, Wade (Kim) Christiansen of Moville, IA, Brad (Holly) Christiansen of Lincoln, NE, Aimi (Duke) Daughtery of Kansas City, MO, Tina (Todd) Davenport of North Liberty, IA, Aaron (Lori) Christiansen of Ankeny, IA, Kyle (Selena) Christiansen of Prior Lake, MN, Carrie (Lance) Anderson of Odebolt, IA, Clayton Christiansen of Bakersfield, CA, Cortland Christiansen of Bakersfield, CA; and 13 great-grandchildren: Dalton and Gunner Christiansen, Travis Daniel, Max and Isabelle Christiansen, Emma and Jack Davenport, Zachary, Anna and Nate Christiansen, Wyatt and Faith Christiansen, and Owen Anderson.


Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Edward; her parents Otto and Lorinda; two sons Richard and Dennis; daughter-in-law Pam; three brothers: Glen Siebrecht, Lyle Siebrecht, and Wayne Siebrecht; and one sister Dorothy Godberson.