Bernice Tholen

Bernice Angeline Engels was born on August 2, 1921, to Livinus and Celesta Engels in Grandview Township. She was baptized, received First Eucharist, and confirmed at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. She attended St. Agnes Catholic School. On June 20, 1946, Bernice was united in marriage to Ralph Tholen at St. Eloi Catholic Church, Ghent. They lived their entire life in the Marshall area. Fishing, traveling, baking, bird watching, needlework, cards and bingo were her special interests. Bernice loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Bernice died peacefully on Friday, September 16, 2011, surrounded by family at Avera Marshall Morningside Heights Care Center. She is survived by her son James (Sharryl), daughters Patricia (John) Drown, Marie (Dan) Ritter, her eight grandchildren, Peter (Jennifer) Tholen, Amy (Andrew) Morrison, Molly (Lee) Olson, Jeffrey (Jill) Drown, Chad (Angelina) Drown, Lisa (Ryan) Hajek, Scott (Beth) Ritter, Laura (Joshua) Kroells, fourteen great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Earl LaVoy, sister-in-law Ione Engels. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, her parents, sisters Marie LaVoy and Angeline Engels and brothers Louis, Vincent, and Joseph.