Berniece Marie Venekamp-Johannsen

Berniece Marie (Petersen) Johannsen was born January 31, 1924 to Knute and Carrie (Hansen) Petersen in Shaokatan Township near Lake Benton, Minnesota. She attended country school and graduated from Lake Benton High School in 1942. She was baptized and confirmed at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, rural Lake Benton. Berniece married Wilbur Venekamp in December 1943. Their union was blessed with seven children. She raised her family and then worked many years as a waitress and cook, and owned a restaurant and laundromat. In November 1965 she married Edward Johannsen. They made their home in Lake Benton. Edward died in November 2004. Berniece recently endured a decline in health.

She entered the care of Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where on Saturday, March 24, 2018 she died at the age of 94.

Berniece was a lifelong member of Diamond Lake, later Grace Lutheran Church. She was on the Church Council and served in the Grace Lutheran Church Women group. She was a long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary and had served on the Senior Citizen Council of Lake Benton. Berniece enjoyed playing cards and bingo, and doing fancy work.

Berniece is lovingly remembered by her children, Douglas (Carolyn) Venekamp of Lake Benton, MN, Michael (Cynthia) Venekamp of Sioux Falls, SD, Patricia (Joe) Harris of Silver City, NM, and Karen Venekamp of Lake Benton, MN; 24 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, MeraLuceil Johnson of Marshall, MN; a brother, Arlyn (Garnet) Petersen of Lake Benton, MN; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Wilbur and Edward; her parents, Knute and Carrie; three children, infant Donna, Brian, and Kevin Venekamp; and two sisters, Irene Lahey and Rosie Rydell.

Blessed and eternal be her memory.