Bernice DeMers, age 95, passed away on January 16, 2016, from complications following a stroke.  She was born on a farm in northern Minnesota on August 14, 1920 to Alphild and Lars Bue.  Following selection by the State of Minnesota, she trained and earned her teaching certificate at age 18.  She taught all grades in a one room Minnesota schoolhouse for five years.  At age 23, she moved with her family to the barracks at Hanford where they were all employed on the Manhattan Project.  In 1947, she married Robert DeMers of Richland and they had three children.  She attended Richland Lutheran Church weekly until late in life. 

She was a meticulous homemaker, seamstress, voracious reader, daily walker, successful gardener, bridge player, and avid golfer well into her 90^th year.  She was proud of three holes-in-one, the last six months after back surgery at the age of 82.   She was highly intelligent, self-disciplined, frugal and grateful daily for the blessings in her life.  The last two years of her life, she demonstrated daily she was “One Tough Norwegian.” 

She is survived by daughters Cheryl Kingen of Spokane and Joni (James) Lewis of Richland, son Mike DeMers of Omak, younger sister Dolores Norberg, five grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

On her command, there will be no memorial service.  The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Richland Public Library.