Bernice Westendorp

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.