HARPER, Bernadine “Bernie”

BERNADINE “BERNIE” HARPER 1936 – 2023 It is with great sorrow and love that we mourn the passing of Bernadine “Bernie” Beverlea-Ann Harper, loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Bernie passed away in Lethbridge on Saturday, October 28th, 2023, at the age of 87 with her loving son, Skip, by her side.
Bernie is survived by her four children: Darcy of Red Deer, Duane (Shelley) of Edmonton, Bev (Sean) Williams of Calgary and Skip (Tammy) of Lethbridge, brother, Gilbert (Audrey) Griffith of Saskatchewan and sister, Grace Jerome of Au Sable, Michigan, as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Bernie was predeceased by her husband, Norman “Ed” Edwin Harper, sister Ruth Williams, brothers Evans and Keith Griffith.
Bernie was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan to Charles and Antonia Griffith on January 21,1936. She was one of six siblings born during the great depression which would have a lasting impression for the rest of her life. Bernie graduated from high school younger than her peers and quickly found employment with a Bank in North Battleford. It was there that she met Ed and then married soon after. After a short time in Estevan, Saskatchewan, they made the trek west to Pincher Creek, Alberta to take advantage of the oil boom and the ample hunting and fishing opportunities. Darcy came along and shortly after Duane followed. The nomadic Ed was eager to go east back to Saskatchewan but never made it past Taber where they planted roots and ushered in two more children, Bev and Skip. Life in Taber was difficult living in a trailer, raising children and meeting basic needs, but Bernie managed with the little income they had. Bernie gained employment at the Bank of Montreal and later with the Royal Bank from which she retired 40 years later. Ed passed away in 1990 and Bernie moved from her hard-earned home into an apartment building where she lived until she was in need of more care.
Bernie’s health was in decline, and she was unable to do the activities she enjoyed like baking her famous cinnamon buns, butter tarts and world class apple pies.
Her faith never wavered through all the ups and downs, and she will always be remembered for her love of sports, her time spent with grandchildren, her honesty, integrity and her value of a dollar.
We would like to thank the staff at Good Samaritan’s West Highlands in Lethbridge for the wonderful care, especially in her final moments, and staff at the Taber Hospital who tended to her needs.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, November 13, 2023, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610, 4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta. Friends and family are invited to join us in remembering Bernie. To watch the service via livestream, please go to https://www.mbfunerals.com/obituary/Bernadine-Harper and scroll to the bottom of Bernadine’s obituary page.
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