Verna Berndt

Verna Berndt, 95, Bismarck, died  on April 4, 2020 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. Private family services will be held. Burial will take place at the ND Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.  

Verna was born on June 29, 1924 near Eureka, South Dakota, the daughter of Henry and Martha Diede.  She was one of 12 children who helped on their parent’s farm.

After attending school in Redfield, SD, Verna became a teacher and taught school for several years before meeting and marrying Clinton Berndt.  They were married November 11, 1951 in Herreid, South Dakota and farmed in the area until 1961 when they moved to a farm near Regan, North Dakota.  In 1981 Clinton and Verna retired and moved to Bismarck.  They loved to travel, play cards and entertain their friends.  Verna enjoyed baking, gardening and singing church hymns.  She loved her family and took great joy in spending time with them.  She will be greatly missed.

Verna is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law; Connie and George Saiger, Chicago, IL; Kathy and James McCullough, Bismarck, ND; one son and daughter-in-law; James and Sarah Berndt, Wilton, ND; eight grandchildren; Dina Alioto, Lori (Dwight) Backman, Kimberly (Toby) Olin, Justin McCullough, April (Mike) Gregoryk, Rebecca Berndt, Chris (Monique) Berndt, John (Marissa) Berndt;  15 great-grandchildren; Ken, Dave, Isabella, Victoria & Connie Alioto, Tyler, Austin & Blake Backman, Joshua, Grace, Isaac & Abigail Olin, Dillon & Evelyn Gregoryk & Olivia Berndt; her sisters Ruth (Al-deceased) Tollefson and Nora (Al) Nelson; her brother Norman (Lyla) Diede. 

She was preceded in death by Clinton, her parents, two sisters and brothers-in-law; Ella (Earnest) Grentz, Irene (George) Fischer;  six brothers and three sisters-in-law; Royal (Violet), Arnie (Pat), Clarence, Laurence, Calvin (Clara) and Arron and one great-grandchild Ethan Gregoryk.

To view Verna's service program, click here.