NORDSTROM, Bernice

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ - Posted: Sunday, September 22, 2013 - Bernice Nordstrom passed on in Chandler, Ariz., Sept. 13, 2013 at the age of 90. She was born Oct. 24, 1922, to Anna and David Sipe, in Putnam County, Ill. Bernice had two brothers, Lloyd and Walter, and grew up on a small farm and nursery with berries and fruit trees. She loved all fruit until the day she died. Bernice met her future husband, John, through their families’ business interactions and they were married in 1942. John worked in farming until entering the Army and Bernice worked in a factory for a time during the war. After his discharge from the Army, they returned to Princeton, Ill. Between 1945 and 1947, John and Bernice had three children: Ken (Jo), Karen Weedman (John), and Ray (Kris). The family eventually settled in Bloomington, Ill., where Bernice was a homemaker and gave birth to two more girls, Lori Nordstrom (Cindy), and Judy Myers (Scott). In 1969, John and Bernice decided to exchange snow for sunshine and moved with Lori and Judy to Lake Havasu City, while Ken, Karen and Ray finished college in the Midwest and began their families and careers. Shortly after moving to Lake Havasu, Bernice and John built a small apartment complex. Bernice managed the apartments for almost 10 years. After John passed in 1980, Bernice moved to Las Vegas to be close to Judy and her family. During her life, Bernice enjoyed her family, her friends, her church communities, and did an outstanding job raising kids and managing a family. Besides her children, Bernice is survived by seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. Services will be Oct. 5 at First Lutheran Church, Princeton, Ill. Donations may be made to Reflections Hospice, 1840 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ 85203, or a church of your choice.