Bernice H. (Lawyer) Hermanek was born on November 28, 1929 in Wagner, SD. She was the second daughter of three to Elmer and Helen (Hrdlicka) Lawyer.
Bernice attended school in Ravinia and graduated from Lake Andes High School in 1947. Bernice received her teacher’s certificate from Southen State Teachers College in Springfield, SD in 1947. She taught country school for 3 years. Bernice met Norman Hermanek at a dance in Lake Andes in 1943. They were united in marriage on a Sunday evening, June 20, 1948 at the Geddes Methodist Church. Bernice and Norman made their home east of Geddes on a farm for over 44 years. In 1992, they moved to Geddes. Two children were born to this union.
Bernice and Norman started square dance lessons in Pickstown, SD in 1956 which led to over 40 years of dancing all over South Dakota and several states, including Hawaii, California and Washington. Since she was the caller’s wife, she rarely sat out a dance, which probably contributed to three knee replacements over the years. During this time she found time to start a wedding business in 1968 making hundreds of large wedding cakes and cakes for all occasions along with wood-fiber flowers for weddings; quilting, crocheting, sewing her own square dance dresses, crafts of all types, canning and gardening. Family gatherings meant so much to her. She loved the holidays when the entire family would gather. Playing with her grandkids and holding her great-grandchildren. Bernice died at Armour Care & Rehabilitation Center on Friday, January 6, 2017 at the age of 87.
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