Funeral services for Berniece Fredericksen, 93, of Aurelia, will be Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 2:00 P.M. at the St. John’s United Church of Christ, rural Peterson, with Pastor Bruce Rapp officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Aurelia Community Center on Tuesday from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., with the family present from 5:00 to 8:00. The Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge of arrangements.
Berniece Christine Pingel was born July 2, 1919, in Afton Township north of Aurelia, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Lizzie (Kracht) Pingel. She graduated from the Brooke High School in 1937. On July 4, 1943, Berniece married Carol Louis Fredericksen in Dakota City, Nebraska. They made their home on her family farm north of Aurelia in 1948, and bought the farm in 1960. It became a century farm in 1964. They retired in 1999. After Carol’s death Berniece moved to The Beck in Cherokee, and later became a resident of Sunset Knoll Care and Rehab Center in Aurelia. She was a lifelong member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, and a member of Women’s Fellowship at the church. Berniece always had a pleasant outlook on life and was very cheerful. She enjoyed sewing and crocheting, making bouquets from ditch weeds, gardening and canning, dancing, and playing cards. She was well known for her tapioca pudding.
Berniece died Sunday, October 21, 2012, at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, IA.
Preceding Berniece in death were: her parents; her husband Carol on March 10, 2001; two brothers, Burdette Pingel and Ralph Pingel; and one sister, Francis Pingel.
Survivors include: one son, Greyling and his wife Denise Fredericksen of Aurelia; one daughter, Bobbie Fiegen of Aztec, New Mexico; five grandchildren, Matthew and wife Traci Fredericksen of Aurelia, Curt and wife Rachel Fredericksen of Dakota Dunes, SD, Christa Fredericksen of Jefferson, SD, Adam Gilleland of Aztec, NM and Amanda Cleveland of Bakersfield, CA; and thirteen great-grandchildren. Also surviving are: one sister, Madonna Chapman of Okoboji; two sisters-in-law, Theone Fredericksen of Owen, WI, and Lucille Pingel of Rogers, AR; nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.