Bernadene M. Bane

          Bernadene M. Bane, 90, of Wolbach died Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at Brookefield Park in St. Paul.

          Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Wolbach.  Reverend Mike Anderson will officiate.

Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach.

          Visitation will be on Friday, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the church.

          Memorials are suggested to The Wolbach United Methodist Church or the Wolbach Foundation.

          Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.

          Bernadine was born May 18, 1927 in Geneseo, Kansas to Frank and Eleanor (Wikoff) Johnston.

          Bernadene was raised around Lyons, Geneseo and Hutcheson Kansas. She graduated from Geneseo high school; something she was very proud of.    During her high school years Bernadene earned superior ratings in solo competitions. As a teen she worked for a neighbor as a Nanny. After graduation she worked as a waitress at the “Harvey House” in Newton, Kansas, then at a Five & Dime store in Lyons. It was here that her future mother-in-law caught the look of those ‘black snapping eyes’! 

          She married the love of her life, after three months of dating. Her sister Nadene, fixed her up with Ernest on a blind date. The couple was married on April 27, 1947 in Fredrick, KS and settled on a farm between Sterling and Lyons, KS. In March of 1951, The couple decided to move up to Nebraska after Ernest’s dad bought a homestead east of Wolbach. Bernadene recalls, “I followed the moving truck in our car with the kid and the cat.” It was here they made their home, raised 5 children and farmed for 42 years until Ernest died on December 29, 1990.

          Bernadene moved into Wolbach in the Spring of 91. She was actively involved in Wolbach’s community for 27 years, until finally she decided in October of 2016, to retire to Matelyn Retirement Community in St. Paul, Ne.

       Bernadene made a name for herself in the art of cake baking and decorating. It was estimated that she decorated 12,500 cakes over the course of 70 years. She loved people, traveling, playing Pitch at card parties or with family and friends. She enjoyed square dancing and Polka dancing. One of her life goals was to climb a Colorado mountain AND she did, three as a matter of fact; St. Mary’s Glacier, Bald Mountain at the age of 75 and The Royal Arch when she was 80. 

       She loved serving others and helping wherever she could.  Reading and Word Search were two of her favorite past times.  Her relationship with God has kept her strong through the years. She faithfully read her Bible and devotionals daily and participated in Church or community Bible Studies.  She will be remembered for her strong faith in God and loving her family, friends and fellowship with everyone she met.

          She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Wolbach, serving as President and Lay Member; the United Methodist Women and the Wolbach American Legion Auxiliary Unit 256.  She was the Auxiliary president for over 20 years, serving three terms.  She was also a member of the Farm Bureau where she served on the state women’s committee, Wolbach Community Club, serving on various committees and helped start the Wolbach Foundation, Nance County Extension Club (Busy Bee Club), the Wolbach Saddle Club where she popped popcorn for every rodeo up until 2015 and the 1st Heritage Club.

          Survivors two daughters, Jean Johnson and her husband, Patrick of Bellevue, Christine Rector and Marcel Vallen of Broomfield, CO; a son and daughter-in-law, Ernest (Frank) Bane, Jr. of Arlington, TX and Cheryl Brown of Topeka, KS; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 4 great great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, LaRoy and Barb Johnston of Golden, MO; sister, Nadene Fuque of Hobbs, NM; sister-in-law, Sandi Johnston of Newton, KS and a brother-in-law, Bill Cathey of Oklahoma.

          She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ernest on December 29, 1990; two daughters, Carolyn Caudill and Patricia (Engel) Greiss; an infant brother, Clarence Johnston; two brothers killed in World War II, Harold and Homer Johnston; two other brothers, Joseph and Dale Johnston Johnston; and a sister, Mildred Cathey.

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