Bernice (Bee) Hangsleben, 91

Bernice (Bee) Hangsleben, 91, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2024 at Valley Senior Living (Woodside Village) in Grand Forks, ND.

Bernice Ann (Teggatz) Hangsleben was born November 27, 1932, to George and Britta (Nash) Teggatz in Grand Forks, ND. She was the youngest of nine children. Bernice’s mom passed away when she was 15 months old, and her father passed when she was 11 years old. She spent her childhood days living with her siblings in Mentor, MN. She started first grade at the age of four, graduated from Mentor High School in 1948 at the age of 16. She graduated from Teachers Training 1949 in East Grand Forks, MN and taught for one year at the one-room country school in Mallory, MN.

On October 28, 1950, she married Oscar Hangsleben and made their home in East Grand Forks, MN. They were blessed with two daughters and three sons. While her children were in grade school, she served as president of the Valley Elementary School P.T.A. and supported her children’s activities! She loved being a Brownie Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother.

Oscar and Bernice started Valley Electric Motor Company in 1966 and she was the company’s bookkeeper. In 1972, they built and owned Valley Apartments which she managed and did the bookkeeping. She worked in the office at Warehouse Food’s Grocery and later as a secretary/bookkeeper for Steve Jensen Insurance Co. Bernice enjoyed many things in life. Her family came first: Celebrating birthdays, weddings, sporting events, band and choir concerts, holidays, and much more. At Christmas, the house was filled with adults, grandchildren, and presents piled to the ceiling. She loved to spoil her grandchildren!

She was a lifelong member of the First Lutheran Church in EGF. Her faith was strong. She enjoyed singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, attending bible studies, and helping with many church groups and events. She loved quilting with her church friends. Her own quilting included patch work quilts that her children and grand children treasure.

As a child, she began her love of horses and living on a farm. She taught her horses many tricks, especially Birdie! Bernice loved old and new country music, watching westerns on TV and DVDs, reading, helping with EGF’s Heritage Days, and planting her vegetable and flower gardens in the spring. She always canned and froze her garden produce, strawberries, and raspberries. She loved to share her flower seeds, produce, and fruit with family and neighbors. In her free time, she’d pick up a deck of cards and play Solitaire. She enjoyed playing ‘500 Rummy’ with her daughter-in-law Sally. She taught her grandchildren to play ‘Slap Jack’ and ‘Rummy’.

Bernice’s passing will be mourned by her daughters Sherrie (Dave) Anderson of Apache Junction, AZ and Menagha, MN, and Julie (Chuck) Fort of Newark DE, and sons Dave (Sally) Hangsleben of Grand Forks, ND and Hermosa, SD, and Mark (Mona) Hangsleben of East Grand Forks, MN and Williams, MN; 16 grandchildren: Hidie, Erik, Rachelle, Nicki, Nathan, Ben, Abby, Holly, Mindy, Casey, Lyndsey, Derek, Mike, Heather, Matt, and Ashley; 21 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Bernice in death are her parents, her husband Oscar in (1992) her son Gordy (2006), and all her siblings: Louis, Ray, Margaret Carle, Gene, Lyda Grendahl, Carl, Dorothy Burr, and Lily Schmaltz.

Bernice’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Woodside Village/Valley Senior Living for the wonderful care she received.

Funeral Service: 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at First Lutheran Church, 203 5th St. NW, East Grand Forks, MN.

Funeral Service will be live streamed on Bernices obituary at www.dandahlfuneralhome.com

Visitation: 1 Hour Prior Funeral Service on Saturday in First Lutheran Church

Interment: Memorial Park South Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND following the service.

Online Guestbook: www.dandahlfuneralhome.com