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Bernice M. Swartz • 1911 - 2008 Bernice Mercedes French was born June 18, 1911, the daughter of Herbert and Elena (Mahlum) French in Baden Valley, Ward County, near Coulee, ND. Her family moved to a ranch near Scobey, MT, where she attended rural grade school. They returned to North Dakota where she grew up on a farm near Coulee in Mountrail County and attended high school in Kenmare. She was of the Lutheran faith and confirmed in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, rural Coulee. She was once married to Martin Larsen and they later divorced. They had two sons, Leverett and Milo. She moved to Butte, MT where she raised her sons. There she married Delbert "Bud" Swartz. Their children are Dean Swartz and Diedre Wilcoxen. After leaving Butte, Bernice and her children lived in Coulee, where she operated the hotel. She later moved to Fallen, NV. Following her husbands death she returned to Kenmare. At the time of her death she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Diedre and John Wilcoxen in Port Ludlow, WA, where she had made her home for the past nine years. Throughout her life, Bernice enjoyed painting, cooking and gardening. Those who shared in her life, sons, Leverett (Inez) Larsen, Anchorage, AK, Milo (Junko) Larsen, Milpitas, CA and Dean Swartz, San Angelo, TX; daughter, Diedre (John) Wilcoxen, Port Ludlow, WA; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great great grandchild; brother, Hiro (Evelyn) French, Mitchell, SD; sister, Phyllis Hanson, Kenmare, ND, and many nieces and nephews. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert "Bud" Swartz; her parents, Herbert and Elena French; sister, Erma Fuller; brothers, Elton, Whitman and Ward French. Funeral: Friday, June 27, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, rural Coulee, ND. Visitation: There will be no reviewal, but friends may sign the register Friday one hour prior to the service in the church. Burial: Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Rosehill Cemetery, Kenmare, ND. The family requests memorials to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, rural Coulee, ND or to the Lakeview Art Club, Kenmare, ND. Officiant: Rev. Dan Paulson Eulogists: Oley Larsen and DeVonne Hanson Music Honorary Bearers: Bernice's family and friends Active Bearers: Zachary Seibert, Kurt Thompson, Oley
Larsen, Deana Swartz, Byron Hanson Eric Larsen |
Bernice
M. Swartz, 96, Port Ludlow, WA, formerly of Kenmare, ND, died
April 13, 2008 in Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton, WA.