Obituary: Bernice Louise (Dunne) Turner

Bernice Louise (Dunne) Turner died July 18, 2010, in Carson City. Bernice was born in Wadena, Minn., on May 26, 1929. She is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. H.G. Dunne and Agnes Dunne, and sister Lorraine Villwock.

Bernice graduated from Wadena High School in 1947 where she was class valedictorian in addition to being voted "Best Dressed" in the Senior Class Yearbook. After graduation, she briefly attended college before deciding to work a summer at Glacier National Park in Montana where she discovered not only a love of the outdoors but also the adventure of travel. She later attended business college in Saint Cloud, Minn., then was off to the warmth of Southern California.

After befriending a co-worker who recently had returned from working in post-war Japan, Bernice applied to the Department of Defense for a secretarial position. It took almost 6 months to receive the job offer but she accepted the position and was ready to ship out within two weeks. Her parents, Doc and Ag, were not too thrilled with this development but knew one couldn't talk "Dynamite" (Doc's pet name for Bernice) out of a decision once she had made up her mind. It was in Camp Yokohama, Japan that Bernice met the handsome Sgt. Harry Turner, who she married in 1952.

Bernice was proud to be a military wife and was always ready to pack up and move as Harry's Army Aviation posts lead them across the globe living in Virginia, Kansas, Taiwan, Alaska, Georgia, Minnesota, Germany, Kentucky and Florida. In 1971 Harry retired from the Army and Bernice's 23-year accounting career began with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service in Lakewood, Wash.

Bernice was an avid reader, an accomplished bowler, a worthy cribbage partner for her mother and shared her deep love of animals with her three daughters. Her rose garden was a source of beauty and pride.

Bernice was a loving, compassionate wife, mother, grandmother and soon-to-be great-grandmother. She loved Sunday morning breakfast with her grandchildren and big, family holiday dinners. She was a friend to many and will be remembered for the loving dignity with which she lived with the ravages of Alzheimer's disease for so many years. Her family found strength in her love and humor and peace in the knowledge that she is now free.

Bernice is survived by her husband of 58 years, Harry Turner, Gardnerville; daughters Jacqueline (Ross) Johnson, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Nancy (Chris) Durham, Lakewood, Wash., and Mary (Bill) Garner, Spanaway, Wash.; and grandchildren Katie Durham, Matt Durham, Brian Garner, Colin Garner and Gabe Garner.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 29, 2010, at St. Gall Catholic Church in Gardnerville. Burial will be at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley. The family requests memorials to the Alzheimer's Foundation or the charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.