Bernice Bee Wiarda Castlewood, South Dakota Funeral Service 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, November 3, 2004 First Presbyterian Church Castlewood, South Dakota Rev. Terry Drew, Officiating Interment Castlewood Cemetery Visitation 6PM to 8PM Tuesday at Geise Funeral Chapel in Castlewood. Bernice Bee Violet (Fischer) Wiarda, daughter of John and Christina (Waltz) Fischer, was born January 12, 1920 on a farm near Roscoe in Edmund County, South Dakota. She grew up and received her education there, graduating from Roscoe High School in 1937. She attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen for one year from 1938 to 1939 and then taught school in Edmund County for four years. Bee was then employed at Montgomery-Ward in Aberdeen and in 1943 she moved to Sacramento, California and worked at McCullen Air Force Base. She was united in marriage to Cecil R. Wiarda on September 11, 1943 in Sacramento. After Cecils discharge they returned to the family farm west of Castlewood and resided there for 55 years. They moved into Castlewood in 2000 and lived there until her death on Friday, October 29, 2004 at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown at the age of 84 years, 9 months and 17 days. Bee was an active member of numerous community organizations including the Castlewood Arts Council, Merry Mrs. Club, Castlewood Red Hats Society, Booster Club, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Singing Legionettes, and the Tuesday Card Club. She was elated when the women would beat the men at Pinochle. She was also a member of First Presbyterian Church where she served in numerous capacities including Moderator of Presbyterian Women and District Enabler for churches throughout northeastern South Dakota. She was also the drummer for the Incredibles, an all girl band from Castlewood. Their music brought enjoyment to many people throughout the Midwest. She was a charter member of the Castlewood Historical Society. Her 18 year dream of seeing a museum in Castlewood was fulfilled when the Castlewood Heritage Museum was established this year. Memorials may be directed to the Castlewood Historical Society, PO Box 45, Castlewood, SD 57223. She loved gatherings with family and friends and was deeply devoted to her children and grandchildren. Grateful for having shared her life are her husband Cecil of Castlewood; three daughters, Sally Kemink (Randy) of Poughkeepsie, NY, Julie Bragg (Dave) of Wellington, OH, Jeannie Odenbach (Len) of Burke, SD; two sons, Richard Wiarda (Lois) of Castlewood, Robert Wiarda (Alinda) of Dell Rapids, SD; 12 grandchildren; one great grandchild; one sister, Marjorie Dabbert of Bowdle, SD; a brother-in-law, Glen Johnson of Redfield, SD; two sisters-in-law, Delice Gleysteen of Watertown and Eva Fischer of Kulm, ND; and a host of other relatives and friends. Bee was preceded in death by her parents, one son, one granddaughter, two brothers and one sister.