Gertrude "Bernice" Vernon

April 02, 1923 - March 28, 2016

Gertrude "Bernice" Vernon Obituary (Age 92) Born April 2, 1923 in Harrington, WA. Her father, Kenneth Judson Whitbeck was a farmer and her mother, Gertrude B. Whitbeck a teacher who later took on the farming. Bernice had four brothers, Frank, Earl, Burt and Allen and sisters Evelyn and Joyce who predeceased her. The only surviving sibling, Betty Carlson Southwick, her "little sis" was incorporated into the family as a baby. Bernice was raised on the homestead in District 7 in Bonners Ferry where she met and married Ora Clark Vernon just prior to graduation from high school. For a short time she lived just down the road and had a small farm. While Ora was deployed in World War II for four years she took jobs in Spokane. Ora later worked for the US Forest Service taking her from Bonners Ferry to Clark Fork to Trout Creek and back to Sandpoint often living on an isolated Ranger Station. Bernice loved library work and worked as a public librarian in Sandpoint then helped start the library in Dalton Gardens. Reading was her passion and finding a book she hadn't read became a challenge. She kind of wanted a girl but really loved and was very proud of her five boys. Ken, Rick, Roger, Tim and Frank were a full time job for much of her life. She celebrated 60 years of marriage to the man she loved with her boys in attendance and proudly displayed her favorite picture of that event wherever she lived. She got her desire to have girls around with arrival of spouses and all of their delightful kids. She had a foster license and took in a couple girls early on and when she was 80 refreshed her foster license and took care of a baby for a little while. Bernice enjoyed her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She didn't discuss her age and was proud to be independent. She loved the wonderful staff and her companions at Harvard Park Retirement Community. A family memorial service will be held at a later date.