Bernice M Broden

Bernice M. Broden, 86 of Devils Lake ND passed away on Monday, December 19, 2022 at Eventide Heartland Care Center in the loving care of her family and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Bernice Magdalena Broden was born on December 17, 1936 in Rugby, ND. She lived 86 years until passing away on December 19, 2022. Bernice was the second of nine children born to Fred and Veronica (Hoffart) Wangler. She spoke only German until attending school in Balta, ND where she learned English and then taught it to her parents. After graduating from Balta High School in 1954 she attended Mercy School of Nursing in Valley City, ND, her father having sold a cow to make it possible. While doing her surgical rotation in Devils Lake a group of nursing students were invited by a group of young men to a 4^th of July picnic at Sweetwater Lake after which she watched the fireworks with one of them. Leo and Bernice were married on June 9, 1958 in Balta, ND.  She finished her nursing training, graduating as an RN. She and Leo moved to Grand Forks where she worked at St. Michael’s and Deaconess Hospitals while Leo finished law school.  After Leo’s graduation they moved to Devils Lake, ND, making it their home for 63 years. Bernice and Leo had four children: Douglas, Joni,  Annette and Thomas.  She alternated years being the “room mother” for her children’s classrooms and attended school mass nearly every Friday.

Bernice was a compassionate and caring nurse, a job that she truly enjoyed. During her nursing career, she worked for Drs. Mahoney and Lazarek, Lake Region District Health Unit, and The Good Samaritan Nursing Home. In her commitment to quality healthcare she has donated her body to UND Medical School. She also owned Country School Gifts and Crafts during which she developed an interest in antiques, buying and selling them at the store. For years she was known to be the first person at every rummage sale and continues to have quite an antique collection.

After closing the store she and Leo did a great deal of traveling. They visited nearly every state, including Alaska, as well as many countries, including Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, the Fiji Islands, Belize, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. She and Leo also went to Mexico and Jamaica where they worked as VOSH volunteers assisting in providing eye care to the needy.  Later in their retirement they spent winters in Arizona where they continued to enjoy desert walks, happy hours with friends, and dancing.

All the prayers taped to her refrigerator remind us of her religion. The family attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and she served in the Catholic Daughters. The refrigerator also always included artwork by her children and grandchildren, first day of school pictures, pictures of hunting and fishing trophies, and the sign “only dull women have clean houses”.

Bernice is survived by her husband, Leo, sons and daughters and their spouses, Doug (Cindy) Broden, Devils Lake, Joni (Roland)Armstrong,  Bemidji, MN, Annette (Kevin) Richmond, Highlands Ranch, CO and Tom (Angie) Broden, Three Forks, MT. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Dr. Nicole (Johnny) Broden Sun, Derek Broden, Christopher, Matthew (Brianna), Tia, and Kiana Armstrong, Adam, Tanner, and Colter Broden. Siblings Delores McDowell, Iberia MO, Richard (Mary) Wangler, Rugby, ND, Carol Goldade, Velva, ND, Rose (Richard) Aberle, Minot, ND, James (Sandy) Wangler, El Cajon, CA, Eugene (Melodye)Wangler, Castle Rock, CO and sister –in-law, Theresa Wangler, Balta, ND, and many, many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Veronica Wangler, father and mother-in-law, Andrew and Elizabeth Broden, brother, Leonard Wangler, sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Wesley Muffenbier, brothers-in-law, Joe Goldade and Dean McDowell, and brothers and sisters-in-law John and Gen Broden, Nick and Mary Broden, Wolter and Colleen Broden,  and Monica and Eddie Engelhart.

She is remembered with love and is now at peace.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that any memorials be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota, to the Memory Care Unit at Eventide Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake to be used for the purchase of supplies for activities programs for the residents, or to a charity of your choice.

Bernice is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake ND