First Rate Care

Bernice (Iverson) Ness

Bernice Iverson Ness was born on January 21, 1921 to Bennie & Clara (Skanson) Iverson in Maple Bay. She had three siblings, Phylane, Rueben and Leroy (Pete) (all deceased).

Bernice went to school in District 90, north of Maple Bay (where Wyman & Teresa Christianson now live).

She attended one year of Nursing School at “Normal” in East Grand Forks, 6 weeks at Moorhead State, and 2 years of “country” classes at Fertile High School (taught by Moorhead State).

Bernice was united in marriage to Victor Ness December 17, 1943 when he was home on furlough for five days. He then went to North Carolina, where Bernice thought she would move, but Victor was shipped to North Africa and then Italy, so Bernice lived at home with her mother & father and taught school.
She said she wrote a letter to Victor every day for the four years he was overseas except for the first “Good Friday”, because she assumed the post office was closed, and later found out, it wasn’t closed.

Bernice said the the most precious gift Victor ever gave her was a ring he made out of a half dollar while he was in “static position” in Italy. He was taught how to pound the half dollar flat and then used his bayonet to punch the hole in it so it would go on her finger.  He spent many hours making the ring for Bernice. It now hangs on a chain next to his dog tags. Victor sent Bernice money and she saved it so when he came home, they could buy a car.

They moved to Fertile and paid $15 a month, rent on a house with no plumbing!  Four years later they moved to the Farm where they lived until they moved to Fair Meadow in September of 2014.

Bernice & Victor had four children. Joan, died in infancy, Norma died in April of 2014 (Wayne) Peterson, Colorado Springs, Byron (Marilyn) Ness, Fertile; Gail (Jim) Wienkauf, Clear Lake. They have eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

They are members of Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church. They enjoyed traveling to Norway in 1996 for three weeks with Norma & Wayne.  They have also traveled many times to Canada and different states in the US.
From 1995-1997 Bernice compiled a book of her & Victor’s heritage, titled Pluses and Minuses.  She said she wrote it for her precious grandchildren.

Bernice’s hobbies include sewing. She has hand embroidered two quilts and made many quilts for her family. She also enjoyed gardening and cooking for the farmers and all the company Victor brought in from the shop! Bernice simply enjoys being around people and being married to Victor for 72 years!