Bernice J. Chaske, age 71, of Minneapolis, MN, formerly of Fort Totten, ND, died Thursday, February 27, 2014.

Bernice Jean Chaske was born January 27, 1943 at Devils Lake, ND, the daughter of Joseph A. Chaske, Sr., and Marion (Littlewind) Chaske.  She grew up in a log cabin at Crow Hill.  She attended grade school at Wahpeton (ND) Indian Schooland high school at Flandreau, SD.  She moved to Fargo where she worked, she had later lived in many places in ND prior to moving to Minneapolis in 1978/79.  She did volunteer work with homeless people (Caring & Sharing Hands) in Minneapolis.  In January of 2012, she entered Augustana Health Care Center in Minneapolis.

She had raised 2 grandchildren, Eugene and Emmanuel Chaske in Minneapolis until she entered Augustana.

She was a great seamstress and made clothes for her family and also enjoyed playing cards.

Bernice is survived by 7 children:  Gilbert Chaske, Devils Lake, Jackie, Leroy and Lee Lenoir, all in Minneapolis, MN, Rose Azure (Robert Santos, Jr) Oberon, ND, Lavern “Bundy” Littlewind Sr., Fort Totten, ND, Denise Chaske, Minneapolis; 30 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Winfield Chaske, Sr. and John (Ramona) Chaske, both of Crow Hill District, and one sister Millicent Little, Devils Lake.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Marion Chaske, Sr; brothers “Big Joe” Chaske, Lawrence Greene, Richard Jackson; sisters Caroline Jackson, Darlene Chaske, 2 infant brothers and 2 infant sisters; 2 nieces Bernadette Farrell and Melissa Chaske, nephew John Chaske, Jr.; brother-in-law Paul Little; sister-in-law Evelyn Chaske; and 5 grandchildren Gilbert Archie Chaske, Fredrick Lenoir and James Lenoir, Nattiel “Tee” Santos and infant baby Santos.

WAKE SERVICE:

Friday, March 7th, beginning at 5PM in Crow Hill Rec. Center

ROSARY SERVICE:

Friday at 8PM, Crow Hill Rec. Center

FUNERAL SERVICE:

Seven Dolors Catholic Church, Fort Totten, ND

DATE AND TIME:

Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 10:00AM

BURIAL:

St. Jerome's Catholic Cemetery, Crow Hill District in May 2014