Bernice H. White

Bernice Helen Tufton White passed away peacefully August 15, 2013 surrounded by her loving family at Harmony River Assisted Living in Hutchinson, Minnesota.

Bernice was born in Moorhead Minnesota on November 22, 1923 to Oliver and Florence Tufton of Kragnes, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at North Buffalo Lutheran Church in Kragnes. Following graduation from Moorhead High School in 1941, she worked at JC Penny Co. in both Fargo and Detroit Lakes. At age 20, Bernice traveled to Portland Oregon where she worked at the the Kaiser Ship Yards at Swan Island as a welder during WWII. Bernice met Leonard Franklin White from New Market, Virginia who was also working there as a welder, and they were married on January 15, 1944. For the next ten years they crossed the USA in a trailer moving to where welding and construction work was available. She often spoke of the places they lived and the many people they had met. After 27 moves across the country, in 1955 they settled in Moorhead.

They joined Our Saviors Lutheran Church where Bernice served her church community as a member of women’s groups, choir assistant, youth activities and anywhere else she could be of service. Bernice and Leonard raised three children, Rodney, Rita and Robin. Bernice was a wonderful homemaker, hosting many family events and always cooking a full meal every night. She always had baked goods ready for company and was known by many as the lady who made the best cake with fudge frosting they had ever had. She loved to garden, raising both flowers and vegetables, and her door was always open to friends and family.

Leonard and Bernice enjoyed 52 years of marriage. Following Leonard’s death in 1996, she continued to reside in Moorhead for the next 15 years and then with her daughter Rita at the lakes for about two years. Earlier this year she moved to Harmony River Assisted Living in Hutchinson Minnesota near her daughter Robin.

Bernice was a loving grandma and great grandma who took great pleasure in each child as an individual. She delighted in spoiling her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with mementos of her years of collecting antiques and other treasures.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver and Florence Tufton, husband Leonard, son Rodney, and Brothers Orville Tufton and Malcolm Tufton.

She is survived by her sister Hazel Schimming, sisters-in-law Myrt Tufton and Harriet Tufton, daughter- in-law Sheryl White of Moorhead Minnesota, daughter Rita Shiers Terry of Lake Park Minnesota and daughter Robin Young Jim of Hutchinson Minnesota, seven grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren.

Visitation: Thursday, August 22, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.
Funeral: Friday, August 23, 2013, at 1:00 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.
Interment: North Buffalo Lutheran Church Cemetery, Kragnes, MN.