Bernice Ruth Malenke, 93, Austin

Published 10:26 am Friday, February 8, 2013

Bernice Ruth Malenke, 93, a longtime resident of Austin, Minn., (wife of Glen Malenke) was received into glory on Feb. 4, 2013, in Tomball, Texas.

She was born to her parents, Emma Maria Louise Scheiwe and the Rev. Frederich Herman Rotermund on July 23, 1919, the sixth child out of eight in Hillsboro, N.D. She married Glen Charles Malenke on June 5, 1948, and celebrated more than 64 years of married life together. Bernice was baptized into Christ as an infant and memorized most of Luther’s Catechism before her confirmation. She graduated as Valedictorian from St. John’s College, Winfield, Kan., and helped put siblings through college.

Employment for Bernice included secretarial church work, as well as being a secretary with Social Security Services in Austin and with the George A. Hormel U.S. Meat Inspection division. Bernice was a creative and clever recipe creator, as attested to the fact that she won many local, state and national recipe contests, including the Pillsbury Bakeoff, for herself and her extended family. She was also a gifted natural vocal and piano musician, and helped her children excel in music. Most use their musical talents to daily glorify their Savior.

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Bernice is survived by her youngest brother, Arnold Rotermund of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; four children, Norman, Norbert (N.J.), Joeline (Mayes) and Dan. She also counted as rich blessings her 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Two great-grandchildren and six siblings preceded her in death.