Bernice Kelm

Bernice Erna Kelm passed away on Friday, February 11, 2022 at the age of 95.

She was born on January 14, 1927 to Oscar and Alma (Niemtschk) Hengst in Thorndale, Texas.

She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Thorndale, Texas by Rev F. H. Stelzer.

Bernice grew up on a farm outside Thorndale.  She lost her father in an automobile wreck when she was only 8 years old.  This meant that the seven young Hengst children had to take on more than they should have to make ends meet.  Bernice learned that life is not always fair, but God does bless you as you dedicate your ways to Him.  She eventually met a young man fresh out of the service and he pursued her and asked her to marry him after a couple of dates.  Harvey always said that you don’t need to waste any time when you know what you want.  Harvey and Bernice were married on June 9, 1946 at St Paul Lutheran in Thorndale and were blessed with four children, Carol, Connie, Randy, and Freddie.

Harvey and Bernice moved quite a number of times between Houston and Georgetown during the 40’s and 50’s eventually ending up back in Thorndale where they stayed.  They opened the Dairy Maid in 1964 and served 15 cent hamburgers and dime cokes before selling the establishment in 1969.  Bernice was always a gracious host to whomever visited them.  She maintained a large vegetable garden and pickled cucumbers were her specialty.

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Harvey, parents Oscar and Alma Hengst, brothers Clarence, Roy, and Louis, sister Alice Melcher, and daughters Carol Fricke, and Connie Drinkall.  She is survived by sons Randy (Sandra) and Harvey (Fred) Jr, son-in-law John Fricke, brother Eldee (Dolores) Hengst, sister Gladys Moerbe, grandchildren Mindy Walker, Kyle (Megan) Fricke, Maya (Shaun) Wilson, Shivani Drinkall, Sara (Matthew) Watkins, Zachary (Diana) Kelm, Nathaniel (Jessica) Kelm, and Deidre (Chris) Lanier; great grandchildren Blake, Grace, Nathan, Adelaide, Beckett, Luke, Hope, Elijah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Emma, Charlotte, and Daniel and numerous nieces and nephews.

We wish to thank all the neighbors, friends, and relatives who helped Bernice through these last couple of years while she dealt with a number of health issues.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5 – 7 pm at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor.  Funeral services will be held at 1 pm Friday at St Paul Lutheran Church, Thorndale, Texas with burial in the Church cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church General Fund.

Allen Hengst, Ralph Hengst, Kyle Fricke, Shaun Wilson, Zachary Kelm, Nathaniel Kelm, Matthew Watkins, and Raymond Waiser will serve as pallbearers.