Bernie Barbara Mayer

Mass of Christian Burial for Bernice Mayer will take place 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church with Father Cliff Jacobson officiating with Interment to follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Walker Funeral Home. Bernice Barbara (Goedert) Mayer was born April 1, 1923 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Peter and Anna (Krahl) Goedert. She was raised mostly by her older sisters and Dad when her mother died of cancer when Bernie was just 2 years old. She went to heaven peacefully with some of her family by her side on Friday, March 17, 2017 at Legacy Living Center. She had lived in the nursing home since September 2, 2016 and loved it there. She was able to socialize with all the other residents and very quickly made great friends there. She attended school till the 6th grade and then started working in small cafes in St. Cloud area as a waitress. She would use these waitress skills throughout her life to help with family finances when needed. While a carhop at the local A & W she met her future husband Don Mayer, who was a cab driver and would stop in to see her whenever he could. Don and Bernie were married in St. Cloud on December 21, 1943 and were together until Don's passing in 2008. They lived in the St. Cloud area for several years and started their family. They also lived in Sauk Center, and Alexandria, Minnesota where they raised their family of 9 children. Her greatest joy were her children, and she loved spending time with them and later with her 19 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and she hoped to meet her 8 great-great-grandchildren, but never was able to meet them. Bernie was a great mom to all of her children and taught them morals and values they would use thru their lives. She loved to do crafts and taught all her children to use whatever they had to be creative and make their lives more beautiful any way they could with what they had. She especially loved to be with family and friends playing cards, games, and bingo. She loved the holidays and having the family gather for laughs and jokes. She was quick witted and loved having April Fools pulled on her on her birthday, and was quick to get even too. Don and Bernie moved to Gillette, Wyoming in 1995 because of Don's health. She very quickly made friends and spent a lot of time volunteering at the museum, emergency closet, and Renew. Then at age 82 to 84 she volunteered as a senior companion visiting "old people"; anything to socialize with people. Bernie is survived by her children, Bonnie (Don) Beseke of Alexandria, MN, daughter-in-law Carol Mayer of Alexandria, MN, Josy (Jim) Daniel of Gillette, WY, Vicky Su (Don) Fritz of Soldotna, AK, Jim (Karlene) of E. Wenatchee, WA, Cindy (Scott) Jensen of Eloy, AZ, and Rick (Ann) of Melrose, MN, along with all but one of her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters, her husband of 65 years, Don in 2008, 2 daughters, Mary at birth and Judy Lenferink in 2000, a son Jon in 2011, a son-in-law Chuck Lenferink in 2015, and one grandson Jeff Beseke in 1987. The family requests that memorials be made in Bernice's name to benefit the Activities Department at the Legacy Living Center. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com