Bernice Eleanor Souder

Bernice “Bern” Eleanor (Beck) Souder, 82, passed away peacefully in her sleep from a heart attack on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 in Biwabik, MN.

She was born on June 14, 1940 in Duluth Township, St. Louis County, MN to Frank and Elna (Elickson) Beck. She grew up in Clover Valley, MN and was a 1958 graduate of Clover Valley High School. She moved to Aurora, MN and met Loren Souder in Biwabik, MN where they were united in marriage on September 26, 1964. They were married 55 years.

Bern worked at the Arrow Plant/shirt factory (a division of Cluett, Peabody and Co., Inc.) in Eveleth, MN until 1966 and then became a homemaker raising her two children. Bern and Loren owned and operated Souder Plumbing in Biwabik. They enjoyed gathering genealogy data in searching their family heritage. In their early years, they enjoyed many barbecues and boating at the Biwabik Beach and in Bemidji. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cake decorating and baking, puzzles, crosswords, and listening to music - especially Elvis Presley - she has ALL his movies and record albums and went to Graceland with her sister MaryAnn. She also made numerous trips with Loren to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. They spent many summer vacations traveling around the United States with their children. She was also a Girl Scout Leader and volunteered at Biwabik’s Pepsi Cup Ski Challenges.

In 1993 and 1995, she was blessed with two, beautiful granddaughters - Taylor and Sydney - whom she adored and loved and was extremely proud of them.

A private burial will be held at Lake View Cemetery.

Survivors include her loving family, children: Tammy Souder of Virginia, MN, Terry Souder of Brooklyn Park, MN; granddaughters: Taylor (Sam) DeVries of Bismarck, ND, Sydney (Cody) Partch of Sartell, MN; and great granddaughter, Maddyn Partch of Sartell, MN; brothers: Theodore (Sue) Beck of Two Harbors, Roger (Julie) Beck of Duluth, MN; sister: Kathleen Oberg of Two Harbors, MN; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Elna; husband, Loren; sisters: MaryAnn, Irene; brothers: Robert, Allen, Peter, Daniel, Kenneth.

A special thank you to Keith at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home for his grace and comfort in our time of need.

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