Bernice Steinke

Bernice (Tweed) Steinke, 97, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2023, in Bismarck.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 9^th, 2023, at the Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1004 E. Highland Acres Rd, Bismarck, to be followed by interment at 4:30 pm at Gethsemane Church Cemetery, rural Tolna, ND. 

Bernice was born September 4, 1925, and was raised on her family’s farm near Tolna, ND. She attended Oak Grove Lutheran School and worked at Standard Oil in Fargo where she met her future husband, Alfred Steinke. They were married on March 12, 1949, at Fargo’s Pontoppidan Lutheran Church and spent over 69 happy years together. They enjoyed Norwegian folk dancing, belonging to the Sons of Norway, and singing in the choir at the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Bismarck where they were charter members. Bernice was a talented cook who also loved reading, gardening, and sewing.

They raised four children, Lynn (Nancy) from Mandan, Susan Seminary (friend Steve Sharkey) from Bismarck, Kristine Knutson from Silver Spring, Maryland, and Richard (Trisha Wright) from Dublin, Ohio. They had six grandchildren: Gregory (Tracy) and Kurt Steinke, Lynsey (Peter) Robitaille, Erin and Benjamin Knutson, and Jonathan Steinke; and six great-grandchildren: Jered and Autumn Steinke, Elliana Henkel, Zachary and Jenna Steinke and River Robitaille.

Bernice is survived by her brother, Monroe Tweed, sister, Muriel Vigesaa, and sister-in-law, Donna Glass, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Marie (Gudmunson) Tweed; an infant daughter; husband Alfred Steinke and all of his siblings; sisters Mildred (William) Thudium and Eunice Tweed; brothers T. Gilaine and Lawrence (Shirley) Tweed, sister-in-law Bette Tweed and brother-in-law George Vigesaa.

Bernice will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Memorials may be given to the Lutheran Church of the Cross or the Alzheimer’s Association.