Bernice Christenson, 85, Albert Lea

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 13, 2003

Bernice Elizabeth Schmidt Loeffler Christenson, known as “Beans,” died Mother’s Day, May 11, 2003, at the Thorne Crest North Retirement Center in Albert Lea.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 15, 2003, at the First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Bernice was born Nov. 29, 1917, the daughter of George and Mamie Schmidt. She was a graduate of Albert Lea High School in 1936. Beans was united in marriage to Richard P. Christenson on May 2, 1938, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.

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Beans worked for the Wilson Co. of Albert Lea and was a secretary for the Albert Lea School District. Beans will always be remembered for her zest for life and friendly, warm jovial nature. She never aged a day past 39 (according to her). Beans loved her family, her church and went all out to celebrate the holidays and really enjoyed company.

Bernice is survived by her children: Mark and his wife Jeannie Christenson of Columbia Heights, Minn., and Paula and her husband Steven Crouse of Eden Prairie, Minn.; grandchildren: Karl and Maria Christenson, and Katie Crouse; and sisters: Virginia Davies and Shirley Hansen of Albert Lea, Barbara Christenson (mother of Karl and Maria) of Eagan, Minn., and Winnifred (Babe) Schmidt of Albert Lea. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: George and Mamie Schmidt; husband, Richard (Dick); brother, Kenneth Schmidt; and sister, Mrs. Viola Lindholm and husband Wilber.