Individual Details

Death

The funeral service for Bernice D. BEHRENDS of St. John's Lutheran Home, Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, 2 January, at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Jim Allison will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Bonnerup Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Bernice died on Monday morning, 30 December 1996, at St. John's Lutheran Home. She was 85. She was born on 15 April 1911, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of George & Minnie (BALDERSON) BLACKFORD. Her mother died when Bernice was very young, & she was adopted & raised by Annie BJERKE. Bernice married Knute TONGA in April of 1928 in Northwood, Iowa. There were 10 children born to this union. Knute died in 1948. Bernice married Herman BEHRENDS in August of 1950, in Albert Lea. He also preceded her in death. She had lived in the Northwood, Iowa area from 1927 - 1951, then in Albert Lea area until 1961. She lived in Minneapolis from 1961 until returning to live in Albert Lea in 1989. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. She liked to travel, enjoyed collecting dolls & walking. She is survived by 7 children, Bernadine LATHAM of Fridley, Minn.; Ardell TONGA & his wife, Thelma of Harris, Minn.; Merlyn TONGA & his wife, Lucy of Federal Dam, Minn.; Cledith TONGA & his wife, Darlene of St. Paul; Donna Belle & her husband, Robert OAKLAND, of Albert Lea; Jolene & her husband, Larry JOHNSON of Cold Springs, Minn.; & Tony TONGA & his wife, Mona of Faribault; son in law, Al CUSHMAN of Great Falls, Mont.; 3 step children, Russell BEHRENDS & his wife, Marcia of Clarks Grove; Ardis WALDRON of Albert Lea & Lolene & her husband, Gene WILENSKI of Anoka; 39 grand-children; 19 step grand-children; & many great & great great grandchildren; sister, Mabel SMITH of Lyons, Neb.; twin brother, Delbert BLACKFORD of Sterling, Ill.; sister, Marie EMMANUEL of Cedar Rapids, Iowa & numerous nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, George & Minnie; first husband, Knute TONGA; husband, Herman BEHRENDS; 1 son, Clifford TONGA; 2 daughters, Shallia BUNYROCK, & Geraldine CUSHMAN; step daughter, Ruby & her husband, Curtis LONGSETH; a sister, Pearl HAMM; 5 brothers, Earl, Merle, Clarence, Clifford, & Bert; grandsons, Wade BUNTROCK & Rodrick TONGA; great grandson, Samuel & step adoptive mother, Annie BJERKE.