Bernice M. Ritchie

Bernice Matilda Ritchie, who most recently was living at 3801 Grand Memory Care, died June 12, 2013, at the age of 102. She was born to John and Gerta Johanson on July 22, 1910, in St. Charles, Illinois, where her father was a skilled glass cutter. The family later moved to northwest Iowa in the Albert City/Marathon area to begin farming.

After finishing high school in Marathon, Bernice graduated with a two-year teaching degree from Iowa State Teacher’s College (now the University of Northern Iowa). She taught at Moneta, Iowa, before being united in marriage to Wendell Ritchie on June 4, 1934. They were married for 50 years.

Bernice and Wendell spent their lives in Marathon where they farmed and Wendell was an auctioneer. They were active in both the Iowa and National Auctioneers Associations, which allowed them to travel extensively throughout the country. For many years Bernice was an active member of The Questers. Upon Wendell’s death in 1984, she moved to Storm Lake and later to Des Moines to be close to her sons and their families.

Bernice was a role model to many with her ability to not only readily accept the changes that came throughout her long life, but to embrace them and to grow with them. She was ever the positive, forward looking person, encouraging her family to be the same. To her eight great-grandchildren, “GG” will remain a star in their sky.

Bernice is survived by sons, Weston (Karen) of Des Moines and Corwin of West Des Moines; sister, Leone Buse of Albert City; four grandchildren, Wyatt (Anne) Ritchie of Palo Alto, California, Andrea (Chris) Parker of Woodinville, Washington, B. J. (Paige) Ritchie of Providence, Rhode Island, and Chris (Johanna) Ritchie of Glendale Heights, Illinois; and eight great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Caroline and Walker Ritchie, Quinten, Eli and Zoe Parker, Kyla and Tucker Ritchie, as well as 11 nephews and nieces.

In addition to her husband, Bernice was preceded in death my her parents; brothers, Ralph and Dennis Johanson; and sisters, Vera Johnson and Ellen Kyle.

Graveside services will be held at the Marathon Cemetery in Marathon, Iowa on Monday, June 24, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.

Bernice was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Des Moines. Memorials may be directed to her church or HCI Care Services. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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