Bernice Pottratz

BERNICE POTTRATZ was born to Theodore and Frieda (Heideman) Gelderman on July 19, 1923 on a farm near Humboldt, South Dakota where she was raised. She was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Humboldt and she attended school in Humboldt through the eighth grade. In the 1940's, Bernice moved with her parents to a farm by Ward, South Dakota where she helped on the farm. She also worked at a wood novelty manufacturing company in Pipestone, Minnesota. On April 17, 1948, she was united in marriage to Elroy Pottratz at the St. Paul Lutheran Church parsonage in Pipestone. Following their marriage, they lived and farmed near Ward. To this union, a son, Robert, was born.

In 1999, they had a farm sale and moved to Grand Blanc, Michigan to be near their son. In January 2002, after Robert's death in 2001, they returned to Pipestone to be closer to family. They resided at Ridgeview Estates. Elroy passed away in June of 2006. Bernice became of resident of the Ashton Care Center until it's closing when she then moved into the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone. She resided there until August 17, 2013, when she was moved to the Pipestone County Hospice House where she passed away peacefully that evening.

Bernice loved to raise vegetables in her garden and can them. She also enjoyed collecting salt and pepper shakers. She especially enjoyed fishing and letter writing and was always sure to return letters to those who wrote to her.

Bernice is lovingly remembered by her nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her husband, Elroy Pottratz; her son, Robert; her parents; two sisters, Elsie Elee and Nora Burke; and two brothers, Fred 'Fritz' Gelderman and Max Gelderman.