On March 24, 2016, Bernice passed away peacefully at the Brendan House in Kalispell.
Bernice was born January 25, 1917, in Kalispell to L.A. and Eleanor Harris. She was the youngest of three daughters. She lived in the Flathead Valley for her entire life.
Bernice attended grade school at West Side School, now Elrod. She then attended the Central School in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1935. Bernice was the first of four generations to graduate from FCHS. She attended Washington State University.
Bernice married Thomas Hebert, her high school sweetheart, in Kalispell at St. Matthews Church. They had three children, Larry, Rosemary and Christine. Thomas was in the armed services and they moved to San Diego and Salt Lake City for a time. They then returned to Kalispell to raise their family. Bernice and Thomas later divorced. In 1959, Bernice married the love of her life, Hank Teigen.
She worked during her lifetime at the Kalispell Hospital, Buttrey’s Department Store and Harmon’s Dress Shop. Upon her retirement from Harmon’s, she and Hank became snowbirds and traveled back and forth from Arizona.
Bernice loved fashion and found many ways to enjoy it. From working in the industry to watching the weddings across the street at the Catholic church, she always knew what was trendy. She never went out without her “face on,” which always included red lipstick and Chanel #5!
Bernice had a great love for the outdoors and wildlife, especially birds. She and Hank would camp for most of the summer, enjoying the landscape and animals, feeding the deer and the birds to draw them in to watch and enjoy. You could pop into camp and find her watching the birds with her “bird book” and binoculars close by, always looking tip-top, right down to her lipstick. While camping, Bernice would hunt for wildflowers and always had a bouquet on the table. If you didn’t know the name of a flower, just ask her — she would know.
All through her life, she enjoyed the daily crossword puzzles. Working them daily, right up until the day she passed away. She claimed in her later years, “They helped keep her brain working.” She played along with Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune daily. She’d tell you she did well playing along, but sometimes she cheated! She maintained her “sunny disposition” right up until her final day.
Bernice loved her family and being able to spend time with them. In her younger years she would organize camping trips and “winter picnics” to get everyone together. In her later years her greatest joys were her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. In January she celebrated her 99th birthday surrounded by her children and all her grandchildren, which brought her great happiness.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Louise and Mildred; her husband, Hank; and son-in-law, Robert Woodland.
She is survived by her children, Larry Hebert and wife Ellie of San Carlos, California, Rosemary Woodland of Kalispell, and Christine Schroeder and husband Vic of Polson; as well as stepsons Don Teigen and Ward Teigen.
She had seven grandchildren, including Kelley Wood and Scott Woodland of Kalispell; eight great-grandchildren, including Amanda Hayes, Cody Wood, Tanner, Travis and Stephanie Woodland, all of Kalispell, and the light of her life, great-great grandchildren Abigail and Brodie Hayes and Hudsen Wood of Kalispell.
Cremation has taken place and a private graveside service will be held for the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to a charitable organization of your choice.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.