Bernice E. VanVleet

Jan. 12, 1922 - Jan. 21, 2010

Bernice Evelyn VanVleet, 88, died Thursday (Jan. 21, 2010) at the McCook Community Hospital.

She was born Jan. 12, 1922, at Lebanon, the daughter of the late Sanford and Opal Mary (Castor) Lockhart.

Bernice grew up at Lebanon where she graduated from rural school. For several years she was employed as a waitress.

On Oct. 6, 1940, she married Denzel VanVleet at Jennings, Kan. They spent their married life farming south of Danbury in Decatur County, Kan. For several years she worked in the Decatur Health System, Good Sam retirement home in Oberlin and later she became a nurses secretarial assistant for St. Catherine's Hospital in McCook. Following the death of her husband Denzel she moved to Danbury and Trenton before moving to McCook in 1997.

She was preceded in death by her husband on Sept. 15, 1977 and one son, Merald VanVleet on Aug. 31, 2009.

Survivors include one son, Alva VanVleet and wife, Dessie of Trenton; one daughter, Karen Carter of Wichita, Kan.; five grandchildren, Michael VanVleet and wife, Michelle, Kevin VanVleet, Scott Carter, Kelli Carter and Heidi Sidwell and husband, Dan; 8 great-grandchildren, Stephanie VanVleet, Christopher VanVleet, Caleb Carter, Gabriel Manuel, Jeren Carter, Bryleigh Carter, Ravyn VanVleet and Allyssa VanVleet; one daughter-in-law, Pam VanVleet of Oberlin and other relatives and friends.

Graveside services will be Tuesday (Jan. 26, 2009), 2 p.m., at the Lebanon Cemetery.

Memorials may be given in her name.

Visitation will be Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Herrmann Funeral Home in McCook.

Memorials may be given in her name.

Herrmann Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.