Bernice A. Pedersen, age 97, of Oakley, died Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at the Logan County Hospital, Oakley. She was born October 19, 1917, in Jamestown, ND, the child of John and Lydia (Holmquist) Newling. She married Lewis Kuper on November 22, 1942 in Faulkton, SD, and Irvin Pedersen on May 10, 1975 in Binkleman, NE.

Bernice was a busy wife, mother, and grandmother during her 97 plus years. She enjoyed crocheting, bingo, playing cards, putting together puzzles, (she was called "the Puzzle Lady") and board games. Bernice liked to garden, attend church, travel, and loved her family, the Senior Center, and socializing. She was a member of the American Poet Society and won awards for her poetry.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lydia; husbands: Lewis Kuper and Irvin Pedersen; brothers: Alfred Newling, Gene Newling, and Kenneth Newling; sons-in-law: Howard Spoonemore, James Boyda, Kenneth Wright, and Kenneth Brommer; grandsons: Lee Wright, Lester Wright and Daniel Hardy, granddaughter, Linda Pedersen, and grandson-in-law, Fredrick Jackson.

Survivors include her sons: Ron (Rolland) Kuper (wife Joyce) of Oakley and William Pedersen (wife Joyce) of McDonald, daughters: Karen LaMastres (husband Ray) of Grinnell, Delores Wright (husband Kenny) of Dodge City and Donna Boyda of Ottumwa, IA; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Abernathy of Valentine, NE and Alice Hippen of Tucson, AZ, 52 grandchildren, and 102 great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 20, 2015 at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley with Pastor Sheryl Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in the Oakley Cemetery and a funeral dinner with family and friends at the Logan County 4-H building. Visitation: Sunday, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials: Bernice Pedersen Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS 67748. Condolences: www.kennedykosterfh.com.