BERNICE TOLSMA

Bernice Susan Tolsma was born October 13, 1931 west of Springfield in the Perkins area, the daughter of Peter and Annie (Odens) Tjeerdsma. She died Monday, May 5, 2025 at St. Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall, after an accident on the farm. Bernice attended country school and graduated from Springfield High School. She worked at the Perkins Store and at the Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield for a number of years. Bernice was united in marriage to Elmer Tolsma on May 27, 1952. They raised four sons and took in another boy for eight years, John Petersen, after he lost his mother. When they were first married they lived in Bapa Tolsma’s house, then Grandpa Tjeerdsma’s farm. They then lived on two farms a mile apart south of Avon in 1955 and from 1961 until present at their current farm. Together they farmed and milked cows. She spent her time helping on the farm, cooking and choring. She was a very strong, tough lady who helped do a lot of field work through the years. Bernice was a member of the Emmanuel reformed Church of Springfield all of her life. Bernice will be remembered for her cookies that all the grandkids and great grandkids loved and her unending coups of coffee. Thankful for having shared her life are her husband Elmer of Avon, children: Vern (Carol) Tolsma of Avon, Paul (Juliann) Tolsma of Avon, Lyle (Marcia) Tolsma of Rapid City, and Mark (Julie) Tolsma of Avon; John (Tamra) Petersen of Rapid City; 11 grandchildren: Lora Tolsma, Mindy (Mike) Grubb, Jeff (Amy) Tolsma, Paula (Dan) Bures, Jay (Ryanna) Tolsma, Pam (Jon) Berndt, Jill (Eric) Elder, Nick (Amanda) Tolsma, Duane Tolsma, Janel (Nick) Honke and Devin (Jill) Tolsma; 21 great grandchildren; 5 step great grandchildren; sisterin-law, Betty Tjeerdsma of Springfield; and many nieces and nephews. Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Justin Tolsma; brothers: Oscar (Lela and Ilena) Tjeerdsma, and Gerald Tjeerdsma; sister, Arlene (Sid) Bierema; and brothers and sisters-in-law: John (Miriam) and James (Ruth) Tolsma. Funeral services were held May 8th at the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Springfield. Burial was in the Emmanuel Reformed Cemetery, rural Springfield. Peters Funeral Chapel in Avon was in charge of arrangements. The service was live-streamed on the Emmanuel Reformed Church, Springfield, YouTube page.