Bernetta K. Schroeder
June 20, 1922 - December 25, 2015
Bernetta Katherine Von Seggern Schroeder, child of God, entered the Church Triumphant on Christmas Day 2015. She was born on June 20, 1922 to Bernard and Bertha Von Seggern, on the family farm in Dodge County. Bernetta was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church on the Cuming County Line, Scribner, Nebraska. In September of 2015, Bernetta attended the 80thJubilee of her confirmation at St. John Lutheran Church, where she was a member at the time of her death. Bernetta graduated from Scribner High School in 1939 and attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, where she earned a teaching certificate. Bernetta taught in rural Dodge County Schools for five years. On December 30, 1945, Bernetta was united in marriage to Norman E. Schroeder. Three daughters and two sons were born to them.
Norman and Bernetta's first home was in Chicago where Norman attended Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, Maywood, Illinois. Bernetta found employment as a bookkeeper at a bank, a seamstress in an exclusive dress shop, and a typist for a seminary professor.
Pastor Norman and Bernetta served Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Lodgepole, Nebraska) and Grace Lutheran Church (Chappell, Nebraska) from 1948 to 1962; and St. John Lutheran Church (Bennington, Nebraska) from 1962 to 1987. Bernetta was a life-long servant of Christ through a myriad of church ministries. She shared her faith by guiding and nurturing children, youth, adults, and the elderly. She opened the Word of God by leading Bible studies and teaching. She elevated faith formation through liturgical arts and care for the sacred details of corporate worship. She carried the light of Jesus to everyone she met. People who knew Bernetta might have seen and experienced her ministry gifts through her teaching of5th Grade Sunday School and 7th Grade Catechism; Bible camp, Women of the ELCA; Vacation Church School; Luther League; Altar Guild; visitation; church dinners and generous gifts of food; parade floats; senior ministries; music leadership; friendship; banners, altar hangings, and handmade stoles; quilts; and wedding coordination. Bernetta was humble and giving, and she served tirelessly in faithful devotion to Christ, giving God the glory for shared blessings.
Bernetta and Norman retired from active congregational ministry in November of 1987 and moved from Bennington to rural Washington County. Bernetta was a loving and gentle caregiver to Norman until his death in 1990. In 2001 Bernetta moved to Immanuel Village in Omaha, Nebraska, where she continued her quiet ministries through a bell choir, fellowship activities, book club, Bible studies, as well as in the Over-Sixty Center and Keenagers in Bennington.
In 2005, Bernetta received the President's Call to Service Award. She served on the Bennington Planning Commission and was active in community life. Bernetta was a lifetime member of Midland Women. In 1997 Norman and Bernetta received the Midland Lutheran College Distinguished Family Award. Bernetta was a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and a 4-H leader. Bernetta was honored by the Bennington Women's Club as Woman of the Year in 1979.
Bernetta's hobbies included crossword puzzles, sewing, quilting, cooking, gardening, leading sing-alongs, birding, learning to play the violin, and flying kites. Bernetta was a loving wife/mother/Oma to her family, delighting in sharing God's Word, music, games, meals, and conversations with her entire family. Norman and Bernetta often used live potted trees in their home for Christmas. Most of the evergreen trees at the St. John parsonage and their acreage were Christmas trees planted to point to the Lord in whose Name they lived and served and loved. At the time of her death, Bernetta was living at the Hooper Care Center.
Bernetta was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Norman, infant son Karl, brothers Melvin (Doris), Clinton (Mildred), Myron Von Seggern, and Helmut Martin. She is survived by four children Miriam (Ken) Sukraw of Bennington, Nebraska; Jannene (Lyle) Sass of Blair, Nebraska; the Rev. Joel (Nancy)Schroeder of Hooper, Nebraska; and Loretta (the Rev. David) Schafer of Waukon, Iowa; eight grandsons, Mark (Angela) Sukraw; Christopher, Philip, and Andrew (Corie) Sass; Benjamin, Jacob, and Seth (Kylie) Schroeder; and Paul Schafer; five great-grandchildren Katherine, Elijah, and Hanna Sukraw, and Jacob and Elliott Sass; three sisters-in-law Lois Von Seggern, Evelyn Briza, and Hanna Martin; many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends.
Praise and thanks be to God for the life of Bernetta Von Seggern Schroeder!
The memorial service will be 10:30am Thursday at the St. John's Lutheran Church, Cuming County Line. Burial will follow in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. John's Lutheran Church in Bennington and St. John's Lutheran Church, Cuming County Line.
Online guestbook at www.hooper-scribner.com
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