Bernice Seppanen, 92, of Watertown, passed away Thursday, December 20, 2018, at Prairie Lakes Hospital. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 am Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at Watertown Apostolic Lutheran Church. Visitation will be prior to the service at the church beginning at 9:30 am. Geise Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bernice Mamie Emma Johnson was born on June 30, 1926, in Kintyre, ND, the daughter of Frank and Edna (Mattila) Johnson. She grew up in the Kintyre area where she attended country school. Bernice went on to receive her Teacher's Certificate at Ellendale State Normal. She taught country school in rural North Dakota before she was united in marriage to Martin Seppanen on June 16, 1948, in Kintyre. The couple moved to the Hayti, SD, area where Martin farmed and Bernice stayed at home to raise their children. Once the children were older, she went to work at the Lake Norden Care Center for over 10 years.

Bernice enjoyed raising flowers, gardening and canning. She was an excellent cook and baker. Rooted in her faith, Bernice always took time to read the bible. Sometimes she would fall asleep with her bible open in her lap after a long day of work. Bernice was a lifelong member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church. In the end, she would often times tell her family she longed to be reunited with Martin in Heaven.

Grateful for having shared his life are her children, Janet (Reino) Maunu of Watertown, Phyllis Boyd of Watertown, Linda (Kenneth) Matson of DeSmet, SD, Dale (Jane) Seppanen of Waubay, SD, Carol (Gary) Dobras of Hayti, SD, Timothy (Deloris) Seppanen of Watertown, Gail Max of White Lake, SD; 29 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; one brother, Melvin Johnson, of Linton, ND; one sister-in-law, Caroline Werronen, of Rainier, OR; one brother-in-law, Maynard Hendricks, of Tower City, ND and a host of other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Martin; three grandchildren, four great grandchildren; two brothers, Eddie and Willard and one sister Alice.