Bernice M. Hickey, age 91, of North Mankato, died on Sunday, December 27, 2009 at Oak Terrace Assisted Living. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in North Mankato with Rev. Peter Nosbush officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Landkamer-Johnson-Boman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bernice was born on February 17, 1918 near Lamberton, MN to John and Isabel (Peterson) Kindler. She went to school in Lamberton. She married Emmet J. Hickey on September 3, 1935. They farmed near Lamberton before moving to North Mankato. Bernice sold Avon for almost forty years. She enjoyed reading and took several courses at Mankato State. She enjoyed swimming and belonged to the YMCA. She enjoyed her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children: Arlene Hill of DePere, WI, Marlin (Lenore) Hickey of Lake Crystal, Robert (Linda) Hickey of Kasota, and James (Terri Stratton-Hickey) of St. Peter; six grandsons: David (Lori) Hill of Fredonia, WI, Dwayne (Heide) Hill of Woodbridge, VA, Jeffrey (Annie) Hill of Green Bay, WI, Jon (Ann) Hill of New Berlin, WI, Michael (Laura) Hickey of Mankato, and Brian Hickey of Norseland; seven granddaughters: Kay (Jerry) Peters of Afton, MN, Pam Pienske of Lake Crystal, Julie (Bob) Joerg of Mankato, Lana Buck of Colorado, Jenny Stratton of South Dakota, Rachel Hickey of St. Peter, and Brooke (Joel) Pfeffer of Mankato; three step-grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; brother Stanley (LouElla) Kindler of Redwood Falls; and sister MaryAnn Sackett of Brainerd. She is preceded in death by her husband Emmet on Dec. 23, 1995; two sisters, Lila Block Pingeon and Irene Krueger; and one grandson Dale Hill.