June 27, 1916 - Nov. 12, 2012
Berniece was a true Oregonian. She was born in Gaston, Oregon, where she lived until she finished High School in 1934.
She went to work in Portland for two years, and while on vacation in Central Oregon in 1936, she met her future husband, Vernon Everett. Vernon was a U.S. Forest Service guard at Crescent Lake, and after dating for two years, they were married in March, 1936. They spent their first year at the lake's guard station and the next two years at the Crescent Ranger Station.
During the war years, the Everetts were in Bend where Berniece volunteered at the Red Cross and the Rationing Board. As the years progressed, Bernice worked in the Filter Center, where they kept track of air traffic in the area. She also volunteered in the X-ray department of St. Charles Hospital, worked on the Election Board, and finally retired after being chairperson in Precinct 11. Subsequently, Berniece worked at the Smart Shop for ten years in ladies apparel.
She and Vern acquired some property on the lower Metolius River and built a cabin. When Round Butte Dam was built, it flooded their cabin, so they built a larger one on the lake. For 17 years they used the cabin every weekend. They fished, boated and had a "ball." After selling the cabin and boat, they bought a fifth-wheel and traveled to Arizona for winters as well as back and forth to the coast. After retirement, while Vern stayed home, Berniece traveled with groups and friends to Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and China, as well as Hawaii, Alaska and Canada.
Berniece continued to volunteer at church and was an Altar Guild member for 40 years. They both were actively involved with the "Sons of Norway" lodge for over 50 years. Vern passed away in 2001.
After two and a half years of trying to keep up the house, yard and her nearby raspberry patch, Berniece sold her property and moved to Whispering Winds in 2003, where she resided until her passing.
She is survived by her nephews, Ronald Hoodenpyl, of Gaston, Oregon, and Arthur Larson of Aloha, Oregon; grandnephews, Ronald I. Hoodenpyl and Douglas Steven Hoodenpyl of Gaston, Oregon, Mark Allan Hoodenpyl of Orem, Utah, and grandniece, Debbie Pfettscher of Green Valley, Arizona, as well as four great-grandnephews and one great-grandniece.
She will be sorely missed by her wonderful "angel" caregivers of The Visiting Angels, as well as the entire Leyerzaph family.
A celebration of her life will be held Friday, November l6, at 1:00 p.m. at Grace First Lutheran Church, 2265 Shevlin Park Road.
Berniece Everett
