Bernice Welters

Bernice A. Welters, age 83 of Melrose, died Friday, November 27, 2009 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 1 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Melrose Christian Mothers, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101, and Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary will pray at 5 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Bernice Ann Wehlage was born March 31, 1926 in Melrose Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Henry and Mary (Ostendorf) Wehlage. She attended grade school at St. John's Catholic School in Meire Grove. She was united in marriage to Robert "Bob" Welters on September 23, 1947 at St. John's Catholic Church in Meire Grove. After their marriage, she was a homemaker and worked side by side with her husband in their poultry business. Bernice has been a resident of Melrose her entire married life.She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers, American Legion Auxiliary Post 101, and Schanhaar-Otte Post 7050 Auxiliary. She was also a past member of the Melrose Senior Citizens Group and the Melrose Hospital Auxiliary. Bernice enjoyed listening to music and dancing. She loved flowers, reading, and going for summer drives around the countryside. She was very talented at sewing and making quilts for her grandchildren. She volunteered at St. Mary's for funeral lunches and other fundraisers and festivities. Bernice loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her beautiful smile and kind, caring heart will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her loving husband, Robert "Bob" Welters of Melrose; children, Kenneth (Wanda) Welters of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Karen (Jeffrey) Kerfeld of St. Rosa, Dale (Jamie) Welters of Bloomington, Daniel Welters of Melrose, and Polly (Jack) Jaeger of Belgrade; 11 grandchildren and 3 beautiful great-granddaughters; sister, Patricia (Stan) Rausch of St. Cloud; brothers, Elmer (Joyce) Wehlage of St. Cloud, Raymond (Joan) Wehlage of Coon Rapids, Norman (Tillie) Wehlage of Meire Grove, and Vernon (Jane) Wehlage of Lino Lakes; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mary Wehlage; sister, Karen Wehlage, and brother, Werner Wehlage.

Serving as casket bearers will be her children, Kenneth Welters, Karen Kerfeld, Dale Welters, Daniel Welters, and Polly Jaeger. Cross bearer will be Shelley (Kerfeld) Rose and scripture bearer will be Ashley Welters. Honorary bearers will be Bernice's grandchildren, Kenny Welters, Melinda Welters, Shelley (Kerfeld) Rose, Brian Kerfeld, Matt Kerfeld, Kelly Kerfeld, Cory Welters, Ashley Welters, Ross Jaeger, and Bri Jaeger. Gift bearers will be Jeff Kerfeld, Jamie Welters, and Jack Jaeger.