Born February 8,1922, to Verner and Ruth Anderson, Swedish immigrants, “B’ as she was called, lived all her life in Rockford, IL. She grew up with her sister, Verona Bade, and brother, Stanley. She was an insurance secretary until her marriage in 1946 to her loving husband, Alldor who had recently left the Navy. Lifelong member of Salem Lutheran Church. She has 3 daughters: Carol Johnson, Deborah (Alan) Albrandt, and Joanne Tracey, her caretaker during her last few months of life.
“B” has three grandchildren: Tom Underwood (Laurie) in Minnesota, Jeff Johnson (Wintre) in Rockford, and Jen McClung (Mark) in Colorado and eight great grandchildren: Emery and Etta Underwood, Vivien and Victoria Johnson, and Jack, Madi, Collin, and Quinn McClung. Predeceased by husband, daughter Carol, and sons-in-law Rich and Wayne.
In her youth she enjoyed roller skating, the Fall Festival on 7th Street, vacations in Wisconsin, riding a train to New York to visit family, and even went to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. She cruised to Hawaii and traveled to Florida and Bequia.
She enjoyed simple things. She knit intricately designed ski sweaters and sewed our clothes. She took us girls to Lake Ripley with cousins for a summer swim day where we feasted on peanut butter and banana sandwiches. She loved baking cookies and always had a freezer full of them. She bowled in leagues until she was 80. She was an avid jigsaw and crossword puzzler. She’d rarely miss Jeopardy and and Wheel of Fortune and could keep up with the best. She drove until the age of 98 and lived on her own until 6 months ago.
Bernice passed peacefully on Sunday, January 29, 2023, surrounded by her daughters. Visitation will be at noon on Monday, February 6, 2023, with service following at 12:30 at Sunset Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 8800 N. Alpine Rd., Machesney Park, IL. If you would like to make a donation to Northern Illinois Hospice in her name, it would be very much appreciated.
Bernice will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Gardens, 8800 North Alpine Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115-2277.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.advantagefunerals.com for the Johnson family.
