Bernice A. Binford

Bernice A. Binford, age 79, died peacefully in her sleep at home on March 13, 2005.Bernice was born on March 21, 1925 to Bernard and Ragna Larson Gunderson. She grew up in the rural Kragnes and Georgetown area. She graduated from Moorhead High School in 1943. Bernice went on to graduate from Moorhead State Teacher's College where she met Howard Binford. They were married in 1950. Bernice began her teaching career in Glyndon, MN, and then later went to teach at the Ben Franklin Junior High School in Fargo. Her teaching years and former students were something she treasured throughout her life. Bernice was a member of Beta Chi sorority while in college and continued to meet with them monthly. She had done so on the day of her death. Bernice was also a member of Fargo Retired Teachers, Cass County Retired Teachers and the North Dakota association. Bernice enjoyed writing and was the editor of the North Dakota Retired Teachers Association Newsletter. In this group she had received the Silver Apple Award and the Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus Meritorious Service Award. Bernice was a life long active member of North Buffalo Lutheran Church.Bernice was regularly seen having breakfast and reading the paper at the Moorhead Village Inn, a practice she and Howard had done for many years and she continued to do. She enjoyed keeping up her yard and mowing with the John Deere tractor mower in the summer months.Howard's journalism skills and his Howard Binford's Guide were an important part of her life. She too enjoyed writing and did so on many subjects, putting memories of life into stories and poems. Bernice is survived by her sister, Dorothy Jim Powers, Fargo, ND; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews and two aunts, Gertrude Van Nice and Goldie Halvorson. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Howard Binford.Bernice was a very social person and loved people, either entertaining in her home or being out with them. She will be missed.