Bernese Renz, 97, formerly of Herreid, SD, died July 25, 2013 in the Strasburg Care Center. Graveside services will be held at 9:00am Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at the Fairview Cemetery, Herried, SD with Reverend Brandon Jones officiating. Bernese Renz was born July 3, 1916 in Broadus, MT, the daughter of Henry and Helena (Hepperle) Berndt. At the age of five years, Bernese and her parents moved to Herreid, SD where she attended school for the first six years. In 1929, the family moved to Linton, ND and Bernese attended school there, graduating from the 8th grade. In 1931 the family moved back to Herreid where she resumed her education and graduated from Herreid High School in 1935. Following graduation, Bernese worked for Dr. Lien and Dr. Adams in Herreid as an assistant nurse and secretary. In October of 1935, she became a telephone operator in Herreid for the Missouri Valley Telephone Co. On September 12, 1936, Bernese married Alvin Renz in Selby, SD and on May 18, 1940 Alvin and Bernese became the parents of a son, Curtis, who was born in Eureka, SD. Another son, Dennis Merle was born in Eureka, SD on October 3, 1945, but he died the next day. Mrs. Renz assisted her husband Alvin in the family grocery and dry goods store in Herreid until 1942 when they moved to California where they both worked in the Kaiser Shipyards. In September of 1945 the family returned to Herreid and resumed the partnership in the Renz Grocery Store. In the mid 1950-'s they became sole owners of the Renz Grocery Store and in 1969, they retired. She was a member of the Herreid Baptist Church for many years and was a Sunday school teacher and a member of W.M.F. She is survived by her son, Curtis Renz, Ames, IA and granddaughter, Robyn Renz, Ames, IA; a brother and sister-in-law: Merle and Maxine Berndt, Palm Desert, CA and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband and an infant son.