Bernice A. Sipe Nordstrom

Bernice had two older brothers, Lloyd and Walter, and grew up on a small farm and nursery with berries and fruit trees. She loved all fruit until the day she died.

Bernice met her future husband John through their families business interactions and they were married in 1942. John worked in farming until entering the Army during WWII and Bernice worked in a factory for a time during the war. After his discharge from the Army, they returned to Princeton, Illinois. Between 1945 and 1947 John and Bernice had three children: Ken (Jo), Karen Weedman (John) and Ray (Kris). Bernice had her hands full with three small children as John began his career in insurance, first in Princeton and then in Henry, Illinois. The family eventually settled in Bloomington, Illinois, where Bernice was a homemaker and gave birth to two more girls, Lori Nordstrom (Cindy) and Judy Myers (Scott).

In 1969 John and Bernice decided to exchange snow for sunshine and moved with Lori and Judy to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, while Ken, Karen and Ray finished college in the Midwest and began their families and careers. Warmer weather was good for Bernice’s arthritis and she and John built a small apartment complex for the growing community of Lake Havasu City. Bernice managed the apartments for almost 10 years before retiring.

After John passed on in 1980 Bernice moved to Las Vegas to be close to Judy and her family. Being close to her youngest grandsons and watching them grow into young men gave her great joy.

During her life Bernice enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; her friends; her church communities; and did an outstanding job raising kids and managing a family. Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and her husband. Besides her children, Bernice is survived by seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, a sister-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held October 5th at First Lutheran Church, Princeton, Illinois. Friends and family will gather at 10:30 a.m. with an 11:00 a.m. service followed by a luncheon that all are invited to attend. Donations may be made to Reflections Hospice, 1840 E. University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85203, the Alzheimer’s Association or a church of your choice. Bernice will be missed but her spirit and life lessons will live on in all those she loved.