Elma Bernhardt

Elma Bernhardt, 92, went to be with her Heavenly Father on May 12, 2024, at St. Vincent’s Care Center in Bismarck, ND.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the Assembly of God Church in Regan, ND. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00–7:00 PM, Friday, May 17, 2024, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E. Divide Avenue, Bismarck, ND.

Interment will be at the Wing Cemetery, Wing, ND.

Elma was born on December 9, 1931, southwest of Tuttle, ND to John and Rose (Koepplin) Mehlhoff. She attended a country school and helped on the family farm until she met and married Joseph Bernhardt at the courthouse in Steele, ND on December 28, 1955. They moved north of Wing in December 1960 where they farmed/ranched and raised 4 boys.   On August 19, 1976, Joseph passed away.  

Elma enjoyed many things in her life.  She was an avid member of the Assembly of God Church in Regan, ND and was a member of the Women’s Missionary through the church. She loved gardening – vegetables and flowers – and her shelves and freezer were always full of wonderful produce. She also enjoyed quilting with her good friend Claudia every week at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They made beautiful quilts which they sent to missionaries and auctioned some off at the Community Days Quilt Auction. Because of her kind and gentle soul, she was made an honorary Grandmother for the Wing Homemakers Club.  

The thing Elma loved the most was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family was always so special to her, and she loved entertaining during the holidays and having her family around her.

Elma will be greatly missed by her children, David Bernhardt, Wing, ND; Patrick (Sheila) Bernhardt, Wilton, ND; Steve (Aggie) Bernhardt, Wilton, ND; Jerome (Becky) Bernhardt, Wing, ND; grandchildren Joseph Bernhardt, Belle Bernhardt, Blake Bernhardt; great-grandchildren, ZoHaven Bernhardt, Kian Bernhardt; her brother Duane (Rosalie) Mehlhoff and her sister Ardella Koffler; many nieces and nephews; and her two feline companions – Jack and Callie.

She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph; parents, John and Rose Mehlhoff, father-in-law and mother-in-law John and Veronica Bernhardt; brothers, Lawrence and Daniel; sisters, Dorothy, Ruth and Carol; brothers-in-law, John Moldenhauer, Philip Krein, Edmond Bernhardt, Howard Bernhardt, Gilbert Bernhardt, Roman Bernhardt; sisters-in-law, Lillian Mehlhoff, Diane Bernhardt, Melina Aman, Cleta Hartman, Cathy Hermanson, Darlene Bernhardt; and nephew, John Hartman.