Bernadeen "Berny" Dombek

BERNADEEN E. DOMBEK...

was born on November 25, 1928 to parents William and Lydia (Harder) Willert in Verdi Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed in 1942 at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Verdi Township. Berny attended Verdi Public School and graduated in 1946. After graduation she worked at the grocery store in Lake Benton and then at Mike’s Caf in Marshall, Minnesota as a waitress. On September 6, 1948, she was united in marriage to Lambert Dombek at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ivanhoe, Minnesota. They made their home in Marshall where Lambert was a car salesman and Berny continued working at Mike’s Caf. In 1953 they moved to Minneota, Minnesota and Berny became a stay at home mom. Berny was a gifted seamstress; in addition to making clothes for the family she did sewing for many others. In 1970 the family moved to Ivanhoe where Lambert became manager of Tholen Auto Sales of Ivanhoe. Berny began working as a nurse-aide at Divine Providence Hospital & Home. A short time later they purchased Tholen Auto, and renamed it Ivanhoe Auto. In 1977 they built a new facility at the corner of Hwys. 19 & 75 which housed Ivanhoe Auto Sales & Service and the Country Corner Truck Stop/Caf. Berny managed the caf for several years and continued to work as a nurse-aide for almost 20 years. Berny moved to Brookings, SD in 1996, and moved back to Ivanhoe in 2010 to be closer to her family. She became a resident of Divine Providence Health Center in May 2014, and passed away there under hospice care on January 8, 2016, at the age of 87 years, 1 month, and 14 days.

Berny was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake Benton. Berny’s favorite pastime was dancing, but she was also an avid quilter making quilts for all her children; grandchildren, relatives and friends. Berny collected cookbooks and was a wonderful cook and baker, which was a skill that was passed along to each of her children. She found great pleasure in sharing her baked goods with others. Berny also had a love for animals, especially dogs and cats but she always took time to feed and watch the birds and the squirrels. She will be remembered for her smile (that was her wish) and also for the love she shared with family and friends.

Berny will be lovingly remembered by her children, Patsy (ElRoy) Jensen of Ivanhoe, Judy (Joe) Drietz of Ivanhoe, Rodney (special friend, Cindy) of Mazeppa, Minnesota, Rich (Jackie) of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Francis “Cisco” of Ivanhoe, and Joe (Randie) of Fargo, ND; 13 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; brothers-in law Donald (Mary) Dombek, and Richard (Marion) Dombek of George, IA.; and numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Berny was preceded in death by her former husband, Lambert; daughter-in-law Georgina Dombek; her parents; three brothers, Orville, Donald and Earl Willert; three sisters, Angela Otkin, Arlene Stevenson, and Verdella VanMeetern; and special friend, Melvin Buschenfeld.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lake Benton, Prairie Home Hospice, or Divine Providence Health Center.

Blessed be her memory.