Funeral services for Berniece Kindt, 98, of Oacoma, SD will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at the United Church of Christ in Chamberlain, SD.  Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Winner City Cemetery at Winner, SD. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Hickey Funeral Chapel in Chamberlain, SD.

Memorials, flowers, or condolences may be sent to the Hickey Funeral Chapel.

The funeral services will be livestreamed on the United Church of Christ Facebook page on Tuesday morning. https://www.facebook.com/Chamberlain-United-Church-of-Christ-South-Dakota-472258576150831

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With profound sadness, we announce the recent passing of Bernie, our loving and devoted mother and friend to all whose lives she touched. She left us peacefully (on August 29, 2021), residing at the Sanford Care Center in Chamberlain, SD. She was 98 years old.

Berniece "Bernie" M. Kindt was born on a farm near Witten, SD in 1923, to her parents Harry and Helen Hollenbeck. She grew up and attended rural schools in Tripp County and high school in Millboro, SD. She obtained her teaching degree at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD; which began her 54 year teaching career at the tender age of 17. At the age of 20, she married Roy Kindt in Winner, SD.

Bernie taught rural schools in Todd, Tripp, and Lyman counties along with Oacoma and 27 years in Chamberlain. She was a member of the U.C.C., the American Legion Aux, several teacher organizations, and a member of the Mighty Mo Red Hatters of Oacoma/Chamberlain.

Bernie retired from teaching in 1995. During her retirement, Bernie and her good friend, Arla Neman, drove to Alaska to visit family and take in the sights. They also took a month long journey to Australia and New Zealand and enjoyed numerous tour bus trips. Bernie made a return trip to Alaska when she was 89, with her daughter, Karly. She loved her church, growing flowers, fishing, Polka music and Polka fests, dancing, and traveling.

Her love was education, and her great joy came from impacting the lives of her students. The support she had for her students is second only to the love and support she showed as a mom.

She is survived by her son Doug (Linda) Kindt of Grants Pass, OR; two daughters Karleen (Alan Suhl) Hanig of Oacoma, SD and Sonya (Lonnie) Haley of Palmer, AK; a sister Elna Black of El Cajon, CA; six grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, many great, great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Roy, her son David Kindt, her brother Blaine Hollenbeck, her sister Dottie Hazuka, and grandson Mike Kindt.