Berniece Helena Braaten, 89, of Blooming Prairie, Minn., died at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014. She was born Sept. 8, 1924, to Clarence and Olava (Strand) Dahl in Blooming Prairie, where she grew up and attended school. After graduation from Blooming Prairie High School in 1942, Berniece worked for Thorson Law Firm as a secretary. She worked for the phone company for one year. On April 1, 1944, she married Roger Braaten in Owatonna, Minn. The couple lived in Blooming Prairie their entire married life of 69 years. Berniece loved to spend time with her family. A member of First Lutheran Church, she taught Sunday School, prepared communion, counted money and helped with the annual lutefisk dinner. Berniece was also a member of WELCA. She was a proud Norwegian. UFF-DA! She enjoyed collecting chickens, baking, cooking, making lefse, making dish towels, and crocheting and making doilies. A Green Bay Packers fan and NASCAR, Jeff Gordon fan, Berniece had strong faith in God.

Survivors include children, Robert (Carol) Braaten, of Blooming Prairie; Linda (Walter) Nelson, of Hayfield, Minn.; Judith Slegh of Maple Island, Minn.; Douglas (Debra) Braaten and David (Rita) Braaten, both of Owatonna; Debra (Gene) Whittington, of Hayfield; Brenda (Keith) Trom, of Rochester, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Braaten, Sr.; her parents; her son, Roger Braaten, Jr.; son-in-law, Gary Slegh, one sister, Gladys Kuchenbecker, and one step great grandson, Jacob.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie with Rev. Charles Leonard and Rev. Heidi Heimgartner officiating. Friends may call at the Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery, Blooming Prairie. The family prefers that memorials be directed to First Lutheran Church of Blooming Prairie. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.