Bernice Caspers

Bernice Ann Caspers, 89, Wahpeton, ND, passed away Saturday, December 4, 2010, at her residence in Wahpeton. The Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 9, 2010 at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton, with Rev. Dale Lagodinski as celebrant. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 4 PM to 7 PM with a Christian Mothers, Catholic Daughters and Foresters Rosary at 4 PM and a 7 PM Prayer Vigil at the Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton and one hour before the service at the Church on Thursday. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Wahpeton.

Bernice Ann Caspers was born December 26, 1920, at Wahpeton, ND, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Klick) Kohnke. She attended St. John's Grade School and graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1938, where she participated in girl's basketball, tennis and the drum and bugle corps. She attended NDSSS in Wahpeton in 1938 and 1939.

Bernice was united in marriage to Robert J. Caspers, one of five sons of Jacob and Kathryn (Richels) Caspers of Breckenridge, on March 26, 1940 at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton; to this union, six sons were born. The couple lived in Fargo, ND and Breckenridge, MN, before settling in Wahpeton where her husband purchased Vertin Furniture and Funeral Home of Wahpeton, with Russ and Bella Munson. Robert was the consummate salesman and spent many hours at work; which required Bernice to spend her time and efforts raising their six sons with the help of her parents that lived next door to them. She loved the lakes and for many years would take the youngest of her boys and stay all summer; washing clothes, watching after and feeding "her pack" and occasionally getting some chores done out of them. After their retirement they continued to live in Wahpeton and spent several winters in Arizona. Robert passed away October 22, 1987; Bernice continued to live in Wahpeton. Her faith was important to her, an example set by her mother who grew up in a Polish-
Catholic community in southern Minnesota. When times were troubling it would not be unusual for her to be saying a rosary in the next room. She enjoyed watching her sons and later her grandchildren in their activities. She enjoyed her bridge clubs, bowling, and watching tennis and golf on TV. In her earlier days she loved to play golf and was active in ladies day at the Bois de Sioux Golf Course with her friends. She continued spending her summers at the lakes with visiting family members, even up to this last summer, thanks to her good neighbors the Crawford's and the Cook's.

Bernice was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Catholic Daughters, Order of Foresters and American Legion Auxiliary. She was a loving and caring mother, who treasured each contact with her sons, was a good confidante to her grandchildren and put on a "good face" for her daughters-in-law. Although she liked to travel with her husband, she was always reluctant to go and anxious to get home. Bernice was a homebody, who in recent years needed much prodding to go out, but appreciated each and every call and visit her friends and family made.


Bernice is survived by her six sons: Robert (Sandy) Caspers Jr., Ottertail, MN; Wilbur "Woody" (Connie) Caspers, Battle Lake, MN; Brian (Sharon) Caspers, Fargo, ND; Craig (Susan) Caspers, Wahpeton, ND; Richard (Julie) Caspers, Dallas, Texas; Joel Caspers and Audrey Blanchard, Tempe, AZ; 11 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren, 12 great great-granchildren and her brother Charles Kohnke, Wahpeton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mary, her husband Robert, a brother, Wilbur Kohnke, a sister, Helen Thompson, a great-grandchild, Max Caspers, and a step-grandson, Michael Cremers.

Memorials are preferred to St. John's Catholic School.

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