Bernice Abel
August 18, 1905 - January 4, 2005

Obituary
Bernice Abel, 99, of Breckenridge, MN, died January 4, 2005 at St. Francis Home, Breckenridge.

Her funeral will be Friday, January 7, 2005 at 11:00 AM at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton, ND with Fr. Dale Lagodinski officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, January 6, 2005, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM. All at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton. Interment will follow the funeral at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery, Kent, MN.

Bernice is survived by: Her 3 daughters: Alyce (Richard) Fitzgerald, Highlands Ranch, CO; Sharon (Dennis) Jorve, Seattle, WA; Julene (Dennis) Beeman, Sioux Falls, SD

Her 3 sons: Allan Dennis (Illa) Abel, Lowry, MN; Jerry (Carol) Abel, Wolverton, MN; Lorin (JoAnn) Abel, Wolverton, MN; Her 19 grandchildren and Her 32 great-grandchildren;

Her brother: Kenneth (Joyce) Van Tassel, Ottertail, MN

Her special friend and caregiver: Louise Erickson, Wahpeton, ND

She was preceded by: Her husband: Elo Abel; Her 2 grandsons: Scott Abel and Bradley Abel; Her sisters: Florence, Gladys, Dorothy, Ruth, Mae, and 2 infant sisters, Blanche and Fern; Her 4 brothers: Bernard, George, Donald and Raymond Van Tassel

History:
Bernice was born August 18, 1905, the daughter of Eugene and Alice (Harvey)Van Tassel at Galchutt, ND. As a young child she moved with her family to a farm near Kent, MN, where she grew up and attended country school. She furthered her education by going to high school in Fargo, ND, where she lived with a family and worked as their maid. She then went on to college at North Dakota Agriculture School in Fargo and obtained her teaching degree. The next few years she taught at schools in the area.

On January 13, 1931, Bernice was united in marriage to Elo P. Abel in Fargo. They made their home and raised their family on a farm in Mitchell Township of Wilkin County, until their retirement in 1965, when they moved to live at Lake Osakis in Osakis, MN. They lived at the lake until 1987 when they moved to Wahpeton, ND. Elo preceded her in death on November 13, 1995. Bernice continued living in Wahpeton until November, 2004, when she became a resident at St. Francis Home in Breckenridge.

Bernice was an avid reader, reading at least a novel each week. She enjoyed playing cards and following the Minnesota Twins baseball team. Bernice also loved crocheting and had crocheted an afghan for each of her children, their spouses and each grandchild. She carefully cared for her flowers, and had a special touch with African Violets and Dahlias. She especially enjoyed the time she spent with her family, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Pallbearers: All of Bernice's granddaughters: Karen Abel-Pignato, Denise Arbuckle, Jackie Bluml, Brenda Conzemius, Allison Henry, Patty Lee, Kathy Morgan, Lisa Parry, Lori Schroeder, Linda Thomas

Obituary: Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, Minnesota