Bernice Johnson
Feb. 18, 1927-Nov. 9, 2020
Bernadette “Bernice”
Johnson, 93, Leawood,
KS, formerly of Kenmare,
ND, passed away Monday,
November 9, 2020, at Lea-
wood Gardens, Leawood,
KS.
Bernadette Mary Thelen
was born February 18,
1927, the daughter of Ni-
cholas and Anna (Opitz)
Thelen, in Kenmare, ND.
She was raised on the
family farm located five
miles west of Kenmare
and attended a country
school in the area. She
graduated from Kenmare
High School in 1945.
She worked as a clerk
for JC Penney in Kenmare
for 30 years. She then
went to work for Murray’s
Clothing in Kenmare for
several years.
Bernice was a member
of the Kenmare VFW Aux-
iliary and the St. Agnes
Catholic Church and its
Altar Society.
She enjoyed crocheting
afghans, quilting, sewing,
embroidery work, garden-ing, canning, cooking, and
was a caregiver for her
mother and others.
The family wants to ex-
press their gratitude to all
the staff at Leawood Gar-
dens. (CNAs, CMAs, RNs,
Doctors, Social Workers
and Hospice Workers)
Special thanks also go out
to all her family and
friends in Kenmare. She
loved Kenmare and North
Dakota.
Her loving family in-
cludes: sons, Greg (Sue)
Johnson, Golden, CO, and
Jeff (Susan) Johnson, Lea-
wood, KS; grandchildren,
Ryan Johnson, Mariana
Johnson and Jacqueline
Johnson; daughter-in-law,
Kum Sun Johnson, Taco-
ma, WA; and one niece,
several nephews and
cousins.
Bernice was preceded
in death by her parents;
father, Nicholas; mother,
Anna; son, Doug; broth-
ers, Vernon and Leroy
Thelen; sister, Genevieve
Bauer; sister-in-law,
Arlyss Thelen; brother-
in-law, Andrew Bauer;
granddaughters, Lindsay
Johnson and Jennifer
Johnson.
Celebrating the Life of
Bernice:
Due to the Coronavirus
Pandemic, A Private Fam-
ily Graveside Service will
be held on Tuesday, No-
vember 17, 2020, at 3:00
pm at St. Agnes Catholic
Cemetery, Kenmare, ND.
The family requests those
attending to wear masks
and social distance.
Bernice’s family plans
on having A Memorial
Mass of Christian Burial
at St. Agnes Catholic
Church in Kenmare at a
later date.
Memorials: In lieu of
flowers, memorials are
preferred to St. Agnes
Catholic Church in Ken-
mare.
Those wishing to sign
the online register and
share memories may ac-
cess the online obituaries
section at (www.
thompsonlarson.com).