Bernice Huls

OGDEN – Irene Bernice Huls, 89, of Ogden passed away at her home with her family at her side at 2:52 p.m. Tuesday (April 21, 2015). Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2015, at St. John Lutheran Church, Royal. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery Royal, with a dinner following at the Royal Community Building. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a 4:30 p.m. prayer service, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph.

Bernice was born Aug. 22, 1925, in Ogden Township, the daughter of George and Katherine Behrens Frerichs. She married Elvin John Huls on June 29, 1947.

She is survived by her husband, Elvin. Her survivng family also includes her sons and their wives, Terry and Donna Huls of Champaign, Norbert and Maris Huls of Penfield and Tim and Susi Huls of St. Joseph; six grandchildren and their spouses, Kim Huls, Kerry Huls, Michelle and Shaughnessy Rice, Michael and Alyson Huls, Tracey and Jeff Mathis and Craig Huls; and eight great-grandchildren, Alexis Rosenberry, Lily, Roisin and Shaughnessy Michael Rice, Milo and Maisy Huls and Blair and Levi Mathis; sisters, Leona Saathoff of Urbana, Erma Christians of Champaign and Clarine Saathoff of Mahomet; a sister-in-law, Annetta Frerichs of Royal; and brothers-in-law, Arnold Hinrichs of Royal and Junior Duitsman of St. Joseph.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John and Herman Frerichs; and sisters, Eleanor Lubben, Rosetta Richards and Carolyn Hinrichs.

Bernice was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Royal, where she was batized, confirmed and married.

Bernice graduated from Armstrong High School in 1944 and then from the Illinois Commercial College. She worked for a few years at the Air Force base in Rantoul, but most of her life she cleaned people's homes, and also helped Elvin on the farm, milking cows and preparing meals to take to the field.

She enjoyed time with her family and loved to play cards and go dancing with Elvin. Her strong faith and her quiet ways of always helping the people she knew will be greatly missed.

Memorials may be made to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America or to the family to go toward the Darrel Meuser Fund of the American Cancer Society.