Bernice Mary (Cardinal) Vealitzek Trebesch, the daughter of Edward and Rose (LaPage) Cardinal, was born on April 22, 1916 in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Bernice's mother died when Bernice was six years old. She was raised by her aunt and uncle. She attended school in Waverly, Minnesota. She was married at the age of 18 to Thomas Vealitzek. They moved to Beaulieu, Minnesota, where they were sheep farmers. They had three children: MaryAnn, Rosemarie and Thomas. Her husband died before their son, Tom was born. In 1943, she met and married Walter Trebesch in Texas. After Walter was discharged from the Armed Forces, they purchased a farm northwest of Mahnomen, Minnesota.

Walter and Bernice had seven children: Baby boy Trebesch, Patricia, Kenneth, Bonnie, Alan, Linette and Joyce. Besides raising a large family, she farmed, gardened, was very active in Bethlehem Lutheran Church and in later years worked at the Red Apple Cafe. She continued to live on the farm until her health started failing in 1999, and her son, Tom presently lives on the farm. She then lived in Fridley, Minnesota with her daughter, Bonnie and family until 2002, when she moved to Duluth, Minnesota and briefly lived with Ken and family, until moving to Hermantown, Minnesota where she was a resident of Edgewood Vista until her death, July 7, 2009.

Bernice loved to farm with her children. Deer hunting was one of her passions, especially when her grandchildren started hunting with her. She continued hunting until the age of 83. She also enjoyed fishing, gardening, embroidering, knitting, playing cards and putting together puzzles. Bernice was a fun loving person, with a mind of her own, but always ready to lend a helping hand. Her door was always open and she was ready to feed whoever came to her door.

Surviving Bernice are eight children: Rosemarie (Steve) Vealitzek Blaede of Carlton, Minnesota, Thomas Vealitzek of Mahnomen, Patricia Trebesch of Ada, Minnesota, Kenneth (Donna) Trebesch of Duluth, Bonnie (Melvin) Eels of Fridley, Alan (Jennifer) Trebesch of Blaine, Minnesota, Linette (Jeff) Clifton of Plummer, Minnesota and Joyce Trebesch of Mahnomen; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Luella (Andy) Simon of Hutchinson, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rose and Edward Cardinal; both husbands, Tom Vealitzek and Walter Trebesch; daughter, MaryAnn Vealitzek; infant son Trebesch; four brothers: Walter, Russell, Willard and Ervin; three sisters: Mildred, Lucille and Gabrielle.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 13, 2009 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., all at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mahnomen, MN.

Interment will be at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery in Mahnomen, MN.