Bernice G. Ewers

Bernice G. Ewers, 93, of St. Paul, died Monday, April 20, 2009, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Thomas G. Hyde will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul. Following the visitation, Mrs. Ewers body will be cremated. Mrs. Ewers was born on July 3, 1915, at Palmer, the daughter of Clifford and Effie (Edwards) Burkman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Ewers on April 10, 1963, and one daughter, Shirley Buck. She is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law, Arlene Jepson of Cushing, Cindi and Mark Mendyk of St. Paul and Ken Buck of Grand Island; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Gene Ewers of Russell, KS and Paul “Dick” and Vicki Ewers of Grand Island. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Bernice grew up in Palmer where she attended Palmer Public School and was a 1933 graduate of Palmer High School. She was united in marriage to Paul Ewers on Oct. 17, 1934, at Smith Center, KS. The couple farmed in the Gage Valley area southeast of St. Paul for a number of years, later moving into St. Paul. She worked as a cook at Jacobs Café from 1954 to 1971 and then at the Skyline Café until her retirement in 1994. At that time, she began babysitting for her great-grandchildren for a number of years. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors for many years and the Hill Trailers Extension Club. Bernice was an avid BINGO player, Husker fan and Atlanta Braves fan. She enjoyed flowers, cooking, gambling and her dogs. But most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family. In addition to her husband and daughter, Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Mike Buck; son-in-law, Richard Jepson; daughter-in-law, Pat Ewers; and a brother, “Doc” Burkman. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice.