Bernice Smith

Bernice Smith, age 97, of McIntosh, MN, passed away on Friday (November 20th) at First Care Hospital in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (November 24th) at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in McIntosh with the Rev. Ryan Rasmussen officiating. Interment will be in Sand Hill Cemetery, rural Fosston. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Bernice Pauline Higdem was born on November 13, 1912 to Andrew J. and Emma G. Knutson Higdem at the family homestead in Sletten Township. Bernice attended country school through eighth grade and then attended McIntosh High School, graduating as salutatorian of the Class of 1931. After high school graduation, Bernice completed Normal Teacher's Training (a one-year teacher certification program). On receipt of her teacher's certificate, she returned to Sletten Township where she taught school for two years at her former country school.In 1934, Bernice followed her sister, Agnes, to Minneapolis where she sought employment, first as a "domestic" (maid); and, later, evolving into the role of head cook for several families in the vicinity of Pillsbury Avenue. While serving as cook at one of those family mansions in Minneapolis, Bernice met and married Jerry Wertish on September 14, 1944. After they were married, Jerry and Bernice moved back to McIntosh where they owned and operated the Felix Café for approximately 15 years. To their union, three children were born: James Michael Wertish (11/18/45); John Edward Wertish (9/6/46); and Judith (Judy) Ann Wertish (12/2/48). Jerry and Bernice were divorced in 1956. In 1964, Bernice moved to Fosston after marrying Charles L. Smith. Although Charlie died in 1973, Bernice remained in Fosston where she re-entered the business world by purchasing a restaurant and card room (Mel's Place) that was owned by her brother, Melvin Higdem. She renamed the establishment "My Place", turned it into a family restaurant, and was sole proprietor of that very successful business enterprise for five years before selling it to Lowell Jevning. Bernice remained in Jevning's employ as chief cook for many years before finally retiring and moving back to McIntosh in 1991. Upon her return to McIntosh, Bernice managed the senior meal program for four years.Bernice was deeply patriotic. She helped organize the VFW Post 6891 Ladies Auxiliary in McIntosh in 1949 and served many terms as President of the organization. She loved attending rallies in her earlier years, served on many committees, marched in parades, helped cook and serve dinners to the community, and completed annual reports for the organization up until her death. The Auxiliary was truly her passion. Bernice loved to laugh and she had a great capacity for looking at life on the bright side, never letting life's circumstances get her down.After her "retirement" from the restaurant world in 1991, Bernice continued baking cookies and frying doughnuts for several of her most special "customers". She spoiled her family by making delicious lefse and mouth-watering deep-fried fattimand, heavily sprinkled with powdered sugar; and, she lovingly packed boxes of home-baked Christmas goodies that she mailed to her three granddaughters every Christmas Season from 1980-2007.Bernice Higdem Wertish Smith was the last surviving member of the Andrew J. and Emma G. Higdem family; preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Melvin, Bennie, Joseph, Arnold, and Reuben; and, by her sisters Agnes Sandbeck Brown and Ella Glidden (Bill). Bernice is survived by her three children, Jim, John (Junell), and Judy; two step-daughters, Kenlyn Berg (Donovan) and Sharon Rowland (Marlo); four grandchildren (Danelle Papenfuss Bemis, Paula Knutson Bemis, Jennifer Bohnart, and Matt Olsen), and three great grandchildren (Miles Papenfuss, Anna Bemis, and Summer Knutson). Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. Bernice entered McIntosh Manor Nursing Home in August 2009 and she passed away at First Care Hospital in Fosston on November 20, 2009, at the age of 97 years and 7 days young. May God bless her memory.