Bernadine Louise “Berny” Behr, age 95, of Wessington Springs, died Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Weskota Manor. Funeral services were held 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs. Burial followed at Prospect Hill Cemetery. Visitation was one hour prior to services at the church.
Bernadine Louise Mitchell was born May 2,1929, Murry County Limelake Twp. Avoca, MN to Earl and Edna (Schellenberg) Mitchell. She was baptized June 8, 1929, and confirmed June 14, 1942. Berny was a lifetime member of the Lutheran faith. She was the oldest of her family and loved her little brothers and sisters with her whole heart. Pat (Ralph) Yotter, Marjean (Mark)Reker, Diane Baack and brother-in-law Gary (Rita) Horkey of MN. Roger (Helen) Mitchell of AZ. and Donna (Bob) Jay of TX.
Growing up in the country and attending country school and graduated from Fulda High School in 1947.
Sept. 10, 1949, she married the love of her life Harold Behr of Fulda, MN.
They lived in Alexandria, SD until 1956 and moved back to Worthington, MN where she worked at Campbells Soup Co. They returned to Alexandria, SD in 1968 where they farmed. Berny had various jobs as a cook, Banty Bar, Spencer, SD, Loretta’s Truck Haven and West 40 in Mitchell, SD.
After the death of Harold in 1997, she moved to Wessington Springs, SD.
Berny had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to joke around. One of her passions was genealogy. She spent hours doing research of both sides of the family. She made many family books that will be treasured by her family.
Grateful to have shared her life are her children, Debbra (Glenn) Smith, Aberdeen, SD, Randy (Nancy) Behr, Hermosa, SD and Kathy (David) Jensen of Wessington Springs, SD.
Six grandchildren, Glennda (Joe) Ritter, Aberdeen, SD. Dianna (Justin) Christensen, Fl, Terri (Aric) Lopez, Rapid City, SD, Mark (Shana) Jensen, Letcher, SD, Jimmy Jensen, Austin, TX, Kyle McAloon, KS.
Seven great grandchildren, Joshua Ritter, Arell, Amiaha and Treyson Lopez, Lane and Landry Jensen and Nate McAloon and many nieces and nephews.
Berny was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Edna Mitchell, husband Harold Behr, infant son, grandson Tracy Behr, granddaughter Stephanie Jensen. Sisters, JoAnn Harner, Earleen Horkey, Karen Bovee, Brother, Leon Mitchell, brother-inlaw David Baack.
