Obituary

Bernice Ellen Lowe Huigens Penner

Obituary

Bernice Ellen Lowe Huigens Penner, 87, died on Tuesday (July 26, 2011) at Kidron Bethel Retirement Home in North Newton.

She was the daughter of Richard and Alma Lowe, born on Feb. 12, 1924, in Denton, Neb. She, along with her brother Harold, and sister, Laverne, spent their childhood, filled with hours of playing in the dirt, mud and trees, on the family farm in central Nebraska. Mornings began with a spoonful of cod liver oil from their mother, who whole-heartedly believed there were some redeeming attributes to the vile stuff ingested by children daily, a one and one-half mile walk to a one-room country schoolhouse and an invigorating repeat jaunt at the end of the school day. The fresh air and spoonful of "yuck" made for healthy kids - all three had perfect elementary school attendance!

Bernice attended the one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. Family circumstances prevented her from attending public high school as a freshman, so Bernice stayed one more year at the rural school to teach the first-grade class. It was the spring board for her interest in teaching small children later in life as a teacher in Sunday school, Good News Clubs Child Evangelism and youth groups. Bernice was selected to attend the exclusive Teacher's College High School in Lincoln, Neb. Upon graduation, she attended the University of Nebraska.

After attending UNL, Bernice worked for Lincoln Liberty Life Insurance Co. and later spent many years as a bank bookkeeper. Upon retirement, she started her own cleaning business, Klean Korners, and worked part time as a receptionist for Broadway Colonial Funeral Home. Her later years were given to many volunteer hours at Newton Bible Church and Source of Light.

Bernice married Arnold Huigens on May 21, 1947. They were blessed with three children, Barbara, Roger and Carolyn.

Survivors are son and wife, Roger (Valerie) Huigens, Spring Lake Park, Minn.; daughter Carolyn (Rex) Savage of Marion County; and many loving grandchildren, nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren, on whom she doted.

Bernice later married Walter Penner of North Newton, who survives.

Preceding her in death was her husband Arnold; daughter, Barbara; sister, Laverne Axthelm; and brother Harold Lowe.

Memorials may be made to the Newton Bible Church, Source of Light or Kidron Bethel, in care of the funeral home.

Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton with family greeting from 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Newton Bible Church.

A private family burial will precede the funeral service.

Friends may sign the book online at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.