Bernice H. Thompson, age 97, of Elmore, died Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center,

Blue Earth. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore, with the Rev. Robert Roettger officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, Elmore. Visitation time will be from 9 a.m. until service time at the church on Saturday. Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Blue Earth is handling the arrangements. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com.

She was born Aug. 20, 1908, in Radcliffe, Iowa, the daughter of Oscar and Annie (Hendrickson) Thompson.

Bernice was baptized in Radcliffe, Iowa and confirmed at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore. She graduated from Buffalo Center, Iowa High School where she received her Normal Training and taught rural school near Elmore. She was married to Marvin H. Thompson on Sept. 19, 1928, in Kossuth Co., Iowa. The couple farmed near Elmore and Rake, Iowa and had one son, DeWayne. They later lived in Albert Lea where Bernice was clerk in clothing and jewelry stores. The couple moved to Aitkin, Minn. where they owned and operated the Farm Island store for several years before retirement. They returned to Elmore in 1990.

Bernice is survived by her sisters, Ivah Erickson of Elmore, MaDonna Gjerde of Elmore and Murtis Johnson of Frost; brother, Rufus Thompson of Elmore; granddaughter, Dawn (and Gary) Pestorius of Albert Lea; grandson, Shawn (and Lorrie) Thompson of East Bethel; and great-grandchildren: Cole (and Kate) Pestorius, Kelsha Pestorius, and Nicholas and Courtney Thompson.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994; son, DeWayne in 1998; brothers, Norman, Herman and Harlan Thompson; and sisters, Hazel Thompson and Lorraine Busch.