Bernice M. Rau, 1937-2022
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jan 10, 2022 | 11:14 AM / 320 views
Bernice M. Rau, 84, Eureka, SD, died Friday, January 7, 2022 at the Avera Eureka Healthcare Center. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 15, 2022 at the Eureka United Methodist Church led by Pastor Mary Lou Gruebele. Interment follows at the Eureka Cemetery. Musicians will be Orene Stickelmyer and usher will be David Grenz. The congregation will sing “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and “In the Garden”. Tyler Rau will sing “The Old Rugged Cross”.
Visitation commences at the Church 5:30 PM Friday with a 6:30 PM prayer service.
Bernice Magdalena Ehresmann, daughter of Magdalena (Christman) and Fred Ehresmann, was born February 8, 1937 at the Ehresmann farm near Hosmer, SD in Edmunds County. She attended rural school and eventually earned a GED. She relocated to Aberdeen, SD and was employed at the Virginian Café. Bernice married Perry G. Rau at Hosmer on May 17, 1955. They settled on a farm 12 miles north and two miles east of Java, SD. They lived on the farm for 58 years, moving into Eureka in 2013 where Bernice lived the rest of her life. She was a member of the Eureka United Methodist Church, the Eureka American Legion Auxiliary, and the Campbell County Country Gals. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, knitting, and watching owls. Bernice especially cherished the time she could spend with her grandchildren.
Bernice is survived by two sons—Lyle (Darnell Van Fossen) Rau of Nevada, IA and Sherwin (Sheila) Rau of Java; two sisters—Marcella Maier of Eureka and Linda Buss of Maple Grove, MN; 10 grandchildren—Shanda Rau, Shane Rau, Tyler Rau, Jessica Pickrel, April Groeneweg, Juanita Grause, Trista Gibbs, Veronica Mason-Rau, Alicia Rau, and Tavrie Ferguson; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Perry, on August 24, 2019; Her daughter, Shelva Rau, on October 15, 2016; her father, Fred, on December 1, 1972; her mother, Magdalena, on March 16, 1992; two sisters (Lavera Grismer and Darnelda Heilman) and one brother (Gaylon).
Honorary bearers will be Bernice’s great-grandchildren.
Casketbearers will be Grandchildren– Shanda, Shane, Tyler, Jessica, April, Juanita, Trista, Veronica, Alicia, and Tavrie.
Bernice’s funeral will be livestreamed on the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook page and be available at this website Monday night.
Services are in care of Lien-Straub Funeral Chapel, Eureka.