Bernice Trautman

BERNICE TRAUTMAN was born on April 1, 1923 to Alfred and Katherina (Shriver) Cyriacks in Lake Benton Township, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake Benton, Minnesota. She was raised on the farm and attended country school in District #10 of Lake Benton Township. She then attended the high school in Lake Benton. After she graduated from Lake Benton High School in 1940, she attended teacher training in Ivanhoe, Minnesota where she received her teaching certificate. She continued her education for teaching in Duluth, Minnesota. On June 23, 1946, she was united in marriage to Thorvald Trautman at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake Benton. Their union was blessed with two children, Joy and David and 62 years of marriage together. They farmed west of Lake Benton, and Bernice taught country school in various districts. She was also a substitute teacher for fifteen years in Lake Benton. In 1983, they retired from farming and moved into Lake Benton. Thorvald preceded her in death on May 9, 2010. Following his death, she continued to live in Lake Benton. On Sunday, July 22, 2018, she died at the Central Minnesota Senior Care Center in Lake Benton, Minnesota at the age of 95 years, three months and 21 days.

Bernice was a lifetime member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was active in the life of the congregation and served as a Sunday school teacher for 20 years and served in the Dorcas Society. She was also a member of BETA Federated Club and the Library Board. She volunteered at the Senior Dining in Lake Benton. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, spending time on her computer, and playing cards with her card club. She especially enjoyed the time spent with her family and friends.

Bernice will be lovingly remembered by her children, Joy Ricke and her husband Steve of Olathe, Kansas and David Trautman and his wife Patti of Frazee, Minnesota; grandchildren, Tiffany Trautman of Overland Park, Kansas, Travis Trautman of Overland Park, Kansas, and Tatum Trautman of West Fargo, ND; sisters, Evelyn Trautman of Lake Benton, Minnesota and Lorraine Brandt and her husband Leo of Balaton, Minnesota; sisters-in-law, Shirley Cyriacks of Adel, Iowa, Stella Cyriacks of Annandale, Minnesota, Evelyn "Spin" Trautman of Tyler, Minnesota, Dolores Faber of Hendricks, Minnesota; and brother-in-law, Bob Bushman of Lake Benton. She was preceded in death by husband Thorvald; her parents; brothers, Walter Cyriacks and Marvin Cyriacks; sisters, Doreen Kinner, Madalyn Huska, and Marie Bushman.

Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lake Benton Opera House, or the Memorial Hill Cemetery Fund.