HOISINGTON — Bernice Teresa Christopher, 86, died Nov. 17, 2018, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. She was born Feb. 18, 1932, on the family farm near Beaver, Kan., the daughter of Frank and Marie (Klug) Beck. Bernice graduated from Odin High School in 1950. 

A lifetime Hoisington resident, she was a bank teller at First Kansas Bank retiring after 38 years. 

Bernice was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Altar Society, and a longtime member of the Hoisington and Great Bend AL-NON.

She was the Labor Day Queen in 1951 and then the Valentine Queen at Country Place Senior Living last year.

Bernice loved doing puzzles, playing cards, especially pitch and pinochle, and dancing. Mel and Bernice often led the grand march at weddings. She was an amazing cook and her kids all cherish the cookbook she made for them. But most of all she loved spending time with her family.

On June 6, 1955, she married Gary L. Christopher in Beaver, Kan. To this marriage five children were born. They later divorced in 1978. In 1989 she met Mel Meier and he was her longtime companion until his death on Jan. 8, 2014. 

Survivors include, her five children, sons, Rick A. Christopher and wife Mira of Great Bend, Craig Christopher and wife Mary of Silver Lake, twin daughters, Karen Boese of Wichita and Karla Willis of Houston, and son, Brent Christopher and companion Kelly of Shawnee; daughter-in-law, Shanna Bolton of Shawnee; six siblings, Gene Beck of Hoisington, Helen Urban of Ellinwood, Kathy Thompson of Conroe, Texas, Elmer Beck of Olathe, Elma Stricker and Betty Steiner both of Hoisington; 12 grandchildren, Amy Christopher, Miranda Brown, Olivia Vanvactor and husband Darrin, Michael Christopher and wife Jamie, Andrew Christopher and fiancé Taylor, Kristin Wemmer and husband Paul, Audrey Boese and fiancé John, Samantha Boese, Jacob Bratton, Allie Bratton, Lindsey Christopher and Brayson Christopher; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister-in-law, Lil Beck.

Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with family to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m., and Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, celebrated by Father Anselm Eke MSP. Burial will follow in St. John Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Clara Barton Foundation, Kans for Kids, or St. John Altar Society, all in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544. 

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson Rickey Funeral Home
415 N. Main
Hoisington, KS  67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 20, 2018