Bernice Olive Ernst

Bernice Ernst, 88, of Moorhead, formerly of Sabin, MN died unexpectedly of natural causes at her home on Sunday, February 16, 2014. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM, Friday, February 21, 2014, at St. James United Church of Christ with Pastor Wendy Ward officiating. Burial will be in the spring in the Elmwood Cemetery, Sabin, MN. Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM, Thursday, February 20, 2014, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM at Dobmeier Funeral Home. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Friday. Bernice Olive Heng was born on March 21, 1925, to John and Mathilda (Paulson) Heng in Downer. She was baptized and confirmed at Gran Lutheran Church. She attended school in Barnesville graduating in 1944. She attended a business school in Fargo and worked at Herbst Department Store for a few years. She was united in marriage to Leo Arthur Ernst on June 25, 1947, in Gran Church, rural Hawley, MN. They made their home in rural Sabin on the Ernst Family Farm. Bernice was a wonderful farm wife, who not only worked in the house and kept the kitchen flowing, she also helped in various farm tasks, including running for parts, transporting from the shop to the field, and then during harvest, she would do the roto beeting, driving beet truck, and kept everyone fed. She was known for her hospitality, with coffee and great chocolate chip cookies, and these are friendships she built for a lifetime.Bernice continued living on the family farm, until November of 2006, she found a new place to call home in a 55 and older building in Moorhead, MN. She enjoyed her friends and neighbors in her building and they spent time together playing cards, bingo, and coffee. Bernice enjoyed her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren first and foremost. She also had a love for game shows on television. She was a great cook and baker, and she was crafty, who enjoyed embroidery and painting. Survivors include one daughter JoAnn (Steven) Leedahl, Moorhead, MN, three grandchildren: Heather (Eric) Mickelson, Colfax, ND, Andrew (Deborah) Leedahl, Sabin, MN, and Anton Leedahl, Moorhead, MN, great grandson Colten Mickelson, and great granddaughter Sadie Mickelson, two brothers: Stanley (Marlys) Heng and Russell (Henrietta) Heng, both of Barnesville, MN, brothers in law: Ernest Geschke, Cheney, WA, Walter Pender, Glyndon, MN, Bud Charlton, Las Vegas, NV, Walter (Paula) Ernst, Sacramento, CA, sisters in law: Lavonne Heng, Barnesville, MN, Ardys (Paul) Randall, Maplewood, MN, Karen (Gene) Prim, Barnesville, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Leo in 2000, son Richard in 1991, brothers: Arndt Heng, Elmer Gunn, Raymond Heng, and Lloyd Heng, sisters: Ethel Cody Ellen Olson, Bertie Geschke, and Harriet Schmidt. Memorials will be designated to the St. James Building Fund.