Bernice Seitz

Bernice Seitz, age 86, of Artesian, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society, in Howard, SD. Visitation for family, friends, and community will be 4-6 PM, Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Willoughby Funeral Home in Howard. Private family services will be Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Willoughby Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian.

Bernice was born at home in Volga, SD, on April 23, 1937, to Bill and Marie (Ringham) Burdick. She attended K-4th Grade in Volga and then moved to Arlington, SD, where she graduated in 1955. She attended one year of college at General Beadle in Madison, SD. Bernice met the love of her life, Keith Seitz in Madison, and was married on April 13, 1958, at the Lutheran Church in Arlington. They made their home on a farm north of Fedora, SD. Two sons were born to them, Jeffery Allen on October 31, 1960, and Mark Douglas on July 15, 1964.  Bernice and Keith left the farm and moved to Artesian in 1979. Keith passed away on February 4, 1981.  Bernice worked at Raven in Howard, and then at the Artesian School District from 1980-1994 as a janitor and cook. She then retired and babysat her granddaughters Nikki and Heather, which she enjoyed deeply. She loved taking care of her family and especially her granddaughters.

Bernice could always be found visiting on the phone with close friends, participating in church activities, and she loved being involved with Senior Citizens activities. Her favorite past time of all was shopping, whether it would be a trip to Mitchell or meeting up with her sister Kitty in Huron for a day of fun, lunch and shopping. She would always find something on her shopping trips to spoil her granddaughters. She loved holidays and would always decorate her home and  loved to entertain.  Christmas was her favorite holiday, at which time her home inside and out would be beautifully decorated for Christmas.  Her tree would go up right after Thanksgiving and would not come down until after the New Year.  She also loved to entertain family on the Fourth of July which involved LOTS of fireworks for the kids!  She cherished any time she was able to travel and visit with family and many memories were created.  She was the news reporter for Artesian for many years for the Sanborn Weekly newspaper.  She belonged to the O.D.O Club for over 50 years, the Roadrunner Club, the Artesian American Legion Auxiliary, along with the Senior Citizens. Once the symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer’s took over, Bernice moved to Good Samaritan Society, in Howard, in October 2019.

Bernice is survived by her son Mark (Angela) of Artesian, SD; granddaughters Heather (Adam) Berger, Fargo, ND and Nikki (Michael) Dawson, Dell Rapids, SD. She is also survived by her sisters, Katherine (Kitty) Johnson, Highmore, SD, Carol Kessel, Spearfish, SD, and brother Billie Burdick, Winner, SD; and sister-in-law Pearl Burdick, Rapid City, SD; along with many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death and will be greeted in Heaven by her husband Keith Seitz; son Jeff Seitz; parents Bill and Marie Burdick; brothers Duane (Red) Burdick, Gerald (Bruno) Burdick, Don Burdick; brothers-in-law Duane Johnson and Lloyd Kessel; and nephews Mike Burdick and Adam Burdick, Jim and Gloria McCain, Stan and Joann Hansen; and her faithful dog Baxter.

The family would like to thank all staff at Good Samaritan Society, Howard for the loving care and also Avera Hospice for the amazing love and care given to Bernice in her final months.

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