Berneice R. Muilenburg, age 92, of Huron, passed away on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at Huron Regional Medical Center. Her funeral service will be at 1:00 pm on Monday, October 15, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church in Huron with burial at Maplewood Cemetery in Iroquois. Visitation, with the family present will be on Sunday, October 14, 2018 from 4-6 pm at Welter Funeral Home with a prayer service beginning at 6 pm; or visitation one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.

Berneice Muilenburg was born on October 8, 1926 to James V Wells and Ella M Pothoff at Gary, SD.   She lived with her parents in Canby, MN, and Gary, SD.  After graduating from Gary High School, she moved with her mother and step father Fred Bremer to Bancroft, SD.  She attended General Beadle College Madison, SD where she received her teaching certificate. Berneice also attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD and Northwest College of Commerce in Huron, SD.

Berneice was united in marriage to Maynard Muilenburg on October 8, 1949. They began their life farming south of Bancroft.  They moved to Iroquois in 1956 where she raised her seven children and was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran church.  Throughout her life in Iroquois she was very active in the community and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Ladies Extension Club, the choir director for the 4-H Clovers, American Legion Jr. Auxiliary and the church choir. She enjoyed taking part in many plays and events through Iroquois and surrounding communities.  In 1974 they moved to Huron where she resided until the time of her death.

She started teaching at the age of 17 all eight grades in a one room country school in Osceola, SD and then elementary school in Bancroft.  She was trained and worked and as a medical assistant and a ward clerk in the Huron Hospital, she cooked at several restaurants in Huron, worked as a Pharmacy Technician and in medical records at the Huron Clinic, a receptionist at the YWCA and a teacher at Cornerstone Career Learning Center for 20 years where she retired at the age of 88.

She loved teaching adults in computer classes at Career Cornerstone Learning Center and helped send many students on to employment. She was awarded The Outstanding Older Worker for the state of South Dakota in 1999. Berneice was presented with a proclamation stating that Nov 3, 1999 was Berneice Muilenburg Day by the Huron City Commission.  She enjoyed worshiping and was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Huron.

She enjoyed music, learning and working on the computer. She also loved working with flowers in her yard along with watching the birds and having coffee on the deck with her friends and family. A special highlight of her day was when her great grandchildren and neighbor kids would come by to visit. She loved to hold new born babies and interact with small children.

Grateful for having shared her life include; two sisters Eileen Ballou and Doretta Nelson both of Minnesota;  her children;  Macy (Sue) Muilenburg of Wessington Springs, SD, Corrie Muilenburg of Huron, JanElla Carroll (Jene) of Tyler TX, Craig (Michelle) Muilenburg of Groton, SD, JoLynne Parmely (Kevin) of Huron and JuliAnn Wolf (Joe) of Henderson, NV; two grandchildren Justin (April)Wolf of Henderson NV, Bridget (Jeremy)Muilenburg of Alpena, SD ; seven step grandchildren, Dustin Johnson,  Nick Weber , Megan Fowles, Madison Colestock  Payton Colestock, Rusty Parmely, Billie Jo Parmely and Dawnita Parmely; seven great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Maynard of 55 years, one son Berne, her mother, father and step father; two sisters, Eunice Peterson and Yvonne Fossum; two nieces and two nephews.