Chesterton Tribune

Berniece Hill Wallin dies at 98

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Berniece Hill Wallin, 98, of St. Simons Island, Ga., died peacefully in her sleep August 5 at Magnolia Manor on St. Simons Island.

She was born January 17, 1911 at the home of her parents, Frank and Mary (Kelsoe) Hill, near Chesterton, Ind.

She married Herman Wallin and lived most of her life in Chesterton. Several years after Heman’s death in 1975, she moved to St. Simons Island.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen Price, of Western Springs, Ill. and her son, Ken Walllin and his wife Judy, of St. Simons Island. She will be sorely missed by her grandchildren Angela, Juliet and Scott Price, Brenda (Price) Moran, Amy (Wallin) Smilovic and Leslie (Wallin) Durham. Her ten great grandchildren will miss the stories she used to tell of what it was like to ride a horse to school and live through the great depression.

Berniece was the first of her family to graduate high school and when she was in her twenties, she left the farm, bought a Model T and began a career in retail. Later, as a pioneer of the modern woman, she became a buyer and managed the fabric department for Smith Store in Chesterton. In addition, her creative talents were put to good use as she dressed the store windows for many years.

Berniece was a master seamstress. She loved to sew for her family and herself, and took great pride in the fashions she created. An avid pinochle and hearts player, she was better known as “the card shark” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. During the holidays, she would make Swedish potato sausage and soft sugar cookies that everyone looked forward to. Berniece loved arts and crafts and gave her most recent creations to her visitors at Magnolia Manor. Her creative genes were passed on to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as art and design has become a major part in many of their lives.

A memorial service, Pastor Jane Aicher officiating, will be at noon Saturday, September 26 at Bethlehem Lutheran church, 2050 W. 1100N. Interment will follow at Chesterton Cemetery.

The family prefers memorials be given to VNA Horton Hospice Center, 501 Marquette St., Valparaiso, IN 46383.

Arrangements are under the direction of White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd Street, Chesterton.

For information, please call 926-1309.

 

 

Posted 9/24/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

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