Bernice Ellsworth, 83, of Stephan, passed away Saturday, November 6, 2021, surrounded by her family at Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 13, 2021, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Stephan, SD, Father Christianus Hendrik, celebrant. Burial will be at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Stephan, SD.  Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, November 12, 2021, followed by a 7:00 p.m. wake service, all at the church.

Bernice Mae King Ellsworth was born October 8, 1938, to James and Eleanor (Knight) King in Miller, South Dakota.  She rode her horse to country school, she started high school at Mt Marty in Yankton and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School at Stephan in 1957.    Throughout High school she worked at the Stephan Mission Office and then the Bank in Highmore.

Bernice was united in marriage to Robert Ellsworth on October 8, 1958, at Immaculate Conception Church at Stephan, South Dakota.  They lived in North Dakota and Kentucky.  She moved back to Stephan when Bob was drafted into the Army.  When Bob returned from the military, they started working at Mac’s Corner where they worked side by side.

Growing up she loved to ride her horse, she was a second mom to her siblings as well as many of the neighborhood families, was a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Catholic, honored by the Lakota Nation, honored by Highmore High School Rodeo Club, and bowled for many years.

Bernice loved her family and always put everyone before herself.  She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren; she was their biggest fan.

Grateful for having shared her life were children: Bobby (Kathy) Ellsworth of Ft Thompson, Jeff (Lori) Ellsworth of Stephan, SD, Cindy (Dusty) Anderson of Yankton, SD and Greg (Buffy) Ellsworth of Carbondale, IL; grandchildren: Hattie Ellsworth, Augie (Dani) Ellsworth, Hannah (Wyatt) Schaack, JimBob (Jacey) Ellsworth, TJ (Melanie) Ellsworth, Tyrel (Lacey) Ellsworth, Deseray Ellsworth (Kyle Clement), Shae (Jake) Stephenson, Staci (Nick) Wolf, Cole Anderson (Brittany Herrmann), and Alana Ellsworth; great grandchildren: Coby, Eli, Maddie, Abigail, Eleanor, Della, Brooklyn and Eliza Ellsworth, McCrae Schaack, Coy and Cambri Stephenson, Colt, Whitley, Cowan & Tylee Wolf; brothers and sisters, Judy (Jay) Runestad, Bill (Julie) King, Jerry (Jamie) King, Marie (Greg) Arendt, and Marile (Gary) Straight; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws: Aaron (Rita) Ellsworth, Patricia Shaw, Karen (Bob) Kroning, Janice (Gene) Moncur, and Barbra (Gordon) Sluneka; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob of 62 years; parents, James and Eleanor King; son, Timothy Ray Ellsworth; granddaughter, Shantel Ray Anderson; father and mother-in-law, George and Della Ellsworth.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Bernice’s arrangements.

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