Berniece Hazel Molde, 82, of Stewartville, Minn., died on Thursday (Jan. 16, 2014) of natural causes at Root River Estates in Stewartville.

Berniece Molde

Berniece was born on Nov. 19, 1931, in Austin, Minn., to Edward and Hazel (Wallem) Wyant. She grew up in Austin, attended Austin schools and graduated from Austin High School in 1950. She was then employed at Hormel in Austin for a few years.

Berniece was  married on Sept. 19, 1953, in Austin to Richard D. Molde. Following their marriage the couple lived in Austin before moving to Stewartville in 1957, where they raised their family and continued to make their home. Mr. Molde died on Nov. 16, 2008.

Berniece was a homemaker and was employed at Lake Center Industries in Stewartville from 1973 until the plant’s closing in 1980. As a young girl, Berniece became involved in activities at the Salvation Army in Austin, receiving her first Bible there and always remembering that as an important influence in her life. She was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville and was also involved in her kids’ activities with the Boy Scouts and 4-H. Berniece enjoyed music, reading, playing bingo with her family and celebrating the holidays. She always was there to help care and babysit for  her grandchildren, loved time spent with her Mily and this past Christmas held her great-great-granddaughter for the first time.

Berniece is survived by her two daughters: Nancy (Tom) Allen of Rochester, Minn., and Jane (Joe) Himmer of rural Stewartville; seven grandchildren: Cristi (Art) Lyke, Ryan (Audrey) Colligan, Josh Molde, Megan Himmer, Nikki (Jake) Tietje, Adam (Ashley) Himmer and John Himmer; five great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; two sisters: Evelyn (Jim) Allgood of Austin, Minn., and Linda (Fred) Drehobl of Lake of the Woods, Ill.; two brothers: Chuck (Leora) Wyant of Austin and Gary Wyant of Dallas, Texas, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; son, Bill; parents and her brother, Edward.

The memorial service for Berniece will be at 11 a.m.. Monday Jan. 20, 2014, at  Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Emily Carson officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Friends may call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday morning at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville. The family suggests memorials to the Salvation Army, Zion Lutheran Church or to the Diabetes Association.

Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville, www.griffin-gray.com.