Helen M. Berndt

Helen M. Berndt, age 92, passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill, under the care of her loving family and the nursing home staff. Helen was born September 22, 1923, in the town of Pine River, Lincoln County, daughter of the late Arthur and Edna (Borchardt) Nienow. She married Frank H. Berndt on April 14, 1945, in Merrill. He preceded her in death on January 4, 1996. Helen had been a homemaker, raising her family, and also assisting her husband with the farm. Helen also found time to work outside her home. Fromm’s Mink Ranch in Hamburg, the former Eddie’s Bake Shop in Merrill, Pine Crest Nursing Home, and the cranberry marsh in western Lincoln County were some of the places Helen had worked. Helen enjoyed baking, sewing, doing word search puzzles, gardening and canning, playing cards, and watching the Milwaukee Brewers. Survivors include her daughter, Darlene (Doug) Gering, Rothschild; two sons, Darwin (Bev Krueger) Berndt, and Dean (Sherry) Berndt, both of Merrill; twelve grandchildren, Julie Mortenson, Stefan and Virginia Berndt, David (Patti) Berndt, Denise (Greg) Brandenburg, Debra (Ross) Heidemann, Lana Berndt, Marcy (Nick) Hinz, Jenny (Mitch) Block, Jason Berndt, Michelle Gering, and Becky (Travis) Hoerman; 26 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Elmer (Polly) Nienow, Green Bay, and Roger Nienow, Rothschild. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her parents, Arthur and Edna Nienow; her daughter-in-law, Diann Berndt; one great-granddaughter; and her sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Hugo Schleif. The funeral will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. R. Brian Stolarczyk will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery, town of Corning. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM Saturday at the church. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com.