Bernice (Frinkman) Bowles was born June 20, 1912 in Centerville, SD to parents Charles and Carrie (Orr) Frinkman. She died September 20, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Center in Centerville, SD at the age of 97 years and 3 months.

After completing grade school and high school in Centerville, Bernice attended Dakota State College, earning a teachers certificate. She taught for a number of years in Lincoln and Turner Counties. Bernice married Ercil Bowles on June 13, 1936. The couple made their home in Quincy, IL until the war effort took them to Hot Springs, AR. Two children were born, Steve in Quincy and Beth in Hot Springs. In 1944 the family moved onto the Frinkman family farm near Centerville. Ercil died in 1996 and Bernice continued to live on the farm until becoming a resident at the Good Samaritan Center in 2003.

Bernice was a member of the Zion United Methodist Church in Beresford where she was active with the United Methodist Women and was a trustee for the Centerville Library for 25 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ercil, brother Ray Frinkman and 3 sisters, Addie Peterson, Gertie Thomas and Bess Johnson.

Her survivors include son Steve Bowles and wife Joyce of Illinois; daughter Beth Dobbs and husband Phil of Florida; 4 grandchildren: Tony Dobbs and wife Stacy of Arizona, Gwyn Beighton and husband Bob of Wisconsin, Ted Bowles and wife Eileen and Dan Bowles all of Illinois; 2 great grandchildren: Emily Bowles and Dylan Beighton; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held 2:00PM, Thursday, September 24 at Beresford Zion united Methodist Church. A private family burial will be held prior to services at the Riverview Cemetery, rural Centerville. Visitation with family present will be Wednesday from 7PM to 8PM at Wass Funeral Home in Centerville with a prayer service beginning at 7PM.