Bernadette L. Howie

Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on October 11, 1943, Bernadette grew up in Fonda, Iowa, and Montebello, California. She graduated high school from Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Fonda in 1961. She graduated as an RN from St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa, in the spring of 1964, and married Steven D. Howie on September 5, 1964 in Fonda.

They lived in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where first child Patricia was born in 1965, followed by Ann in 1967. After a move to LaPorte, Indiana, Michael was born in 1970. In 1971, the family moved to the Howie farm in rural Palmer, Iowa, where Matthew was born in 1972, followed by Jennifer in 1979. In 1996 Bernadette and Steve retired from farming and moved to Manson to co-manage Golden Meadows, an apartment building for seniors. In January 2004, they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, to be closer to kids and grandkids. In Lincoln, Bernadette followed a calling to become a lay Carmelite in the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Florence (Beisch) Peterson, her brother Phil Peterson and his spouse Terri (Daly), two siblings who passed in infancy, Danny and Anne, and granddaughter Elizabeth Svagera. She is survived by her husband, Steve, and their five children: Tricia (Howie) Butler and spouse Barry, Ann (Howie) Thoms, Michael and spouse Denise (Nelson) Howie, Matt Howie, and Jennifer (Howie) Svagera, plus 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Tim Peterson and his spouse Karen (Cook).

Memorials: Pink Sisters in lieu of flowers

Condolences can be left at bmlfh.com

Arrangements by Butherus Maser & Love Funeral Home