1914
M.
2007
M. Bernice V. Stewart (VanDeWater)
June 1, 1914 — November 22, 2007
Bernice Stewart, 93, of Sioux City passed away Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007, at Casa de Paz Nursing Home in Sioux City.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. today at Grace United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Valerie Heller officiating. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery, Parker, S.D. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. until service time today at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com .
Miriam Bernice VanDeWater was born June 1, 1914, to Hal and Ada (Mitchell) VanDeWater in Hurley, S.D. Early in 1916, her father purchased a hardware, plumbing and heating business and moved his family to Ireton, Iowa. She graduated from Ireton High School with the class of 1932. She then attended Iowa State Teachers College, now University of Northern Iowa, for two years and taught in a rural school near Ireton for two years.
On Aug. 22, 1936, Emery Stewart and she were united in marriage in Rolfe, Iowa. In October 1943, after Emery went into the service, she and her baby daughter moved from Orchard, Neb. to Parker, S.D. to live with her parents. While there, she taught in a rural school near Parker for three years. After the war, the couple purchased their home on Morningside Avenue in 1947. That is were she lived until 2004.
She was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, serving on many groups and committees within the church. She was a charter member of the Monarch Chapter of the Red Hat Society and the Sioux City League of Women Voters. She belonged to the Woodbury Republican Women and was a 50-year member of the Elco Garhum Study Club.
She worked at Wetmore Declamation Bureau for 30 years, retiring in 1981. After retirement, she renewed her interest in music and served on the executive board of the Sioux City Chamber Music and provided telephone service in her home for the Sioux City Concert Course for 15 years. For relaxing, she enjoyed knitting and embroidery and made many gifts for relatives and friends. Many summer hours were spent gardening and canning the jars that filled the basement shelves.
She is survived by a daughter and her husband, Miriam "Mimi" and Jack Ruble of Bend, Ore.; a granddaughter, Lindsay Ruble; five stepgrandchildren; eight great-stepgrandchildren; many nieces, nephews and other relatives; and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emery in 1991; twin brothers who died at birth in 1916; brothers, Keith and Lloyd; and two sisters-in-law.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Grace United Methodist Church.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. today at Grace United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Valerie Heller officiating. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery, Parker, S.D. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. until service time today at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com .
Miriam Bernice VanDeWater was born June 1, 1914, to Hal and Ada (Mitchell) VanDeWater in Hurley, S.D. Early in 1916, her father purchased a hardware, plumbing and heating business and moved his family to Ireton, Iowa. She graduated from Ireton High School with the class of 1932. She then attended Iowa State Teachers College, now University of Northern Iowa, for two years and taught in a rural school near Ireton for two years.
On Aug. 22, 1936, Emery Stewart and she were united in marriage in Rolfe, Iowa. In October 1943, after Emery went into the service, she and her baby daughter moved from Orchard, Neb. to Parker, S.D. to live with her parents. While there, she taught in a rural school near Parker for three years. After the war, the couple purchased their home on Morningside Avenue in 1947. That is were she lived until 2004.
She was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, serving on many groups and committees within the church. She was a charter member of the Monarch Chapter of the Red Hat Society and the Sioux City League of Women Voters. She belonged to the Woodbury Republican Women and was a 50-year member of the Elco Garhum Study Club.
She worked at Wetmore Declamation Bureau for 30 years, retiring in 1981. After retirement, she renewed her interest in music and served on the executive board of the Sioux City Chamber Music and provided telephone service in her home for the Sioux City Concert Course for 15 years. For relaxing, she enjoyed knitting and embroidery and made many gifts for relatives and friends. Many summer hours were spent gardening and canning the jars that filled the basement shelves.
She is survived by a daughter and her husband, Miriam "Mimi" and Jack Ruble of Bend, Ore.; a granddaughter, Lindsay Ruble; five stepgrandchildren; eight great-stepgrandchildren; many nieces, nephews and other relatives; and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emery in 1991; twin brothers who died at birth in 1916; brothers, Keith and Lloyd; and two sisters-in-law.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Grace United Methodist Church.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of M. Bernice V. Stewart (VanDeWater), please visit our flower store.
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