Bernice E. Dahlquist

A Memorial service for Bernice E. Dahlquist of Roseau, MN will be held on Monday, July 12, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Roseau City Center in Roseau, MN. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 11, 2021 from 5-7 PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, MN. Interment will take place at Mickinock Cemetery in Wannaska, MN. 

Bernice Evelyn Dahlquist was born to Albin and Alice Eklund on January 14, 1935 at the Greenbush Hospital in Greenbush, MN.

Bernice was legendary for her smile, kindness, and hospitality. It brought her great joy to serve others with love and hospitality. She loved to entertain with hearty meals – the more the merrier. It was common for her to prepare feasts for 20 to 40+ people (around 200 for graduations and weddings). Anyone who stopped by never left hungry (or if they did, it was their own fault). Bernice was famous for her feasts and it is common to hear from people how much they enjoyed her kindness, hospitality, and meals, both in Minnesota and in Florida.

While growing up in the depth of the Great Depression her family did not have much, but they always had plenty to eat from her parents’ garden and farm. Her parents sacrificed much for their kids to obtain a high school education. Bernice and her siblings moved away from home to live near Roseau High School, working odd jobs in order to pay for food and rent. After high school Bernice obtained a business certificate which she applied throughout her life.

Bernice captured the heart of Adolph Dahlquist and they were married on May 11, 1956 and until Adolph passed into his eternal rest in 2015. They were “blessed” with six children; Kent, Kurt (Tammy), Kay (Ron) Huston, Kim (Randy) Horner, Kirby (Tami), and Kelly (Jessica) along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bernice was preceded to eternity by her parents and siblings Lenore, Lorraine, Mildred, and Milton.

Together Adolph and Bernice worked various jobs along with a grain or dairy farm. Bernice worked very hard raising her children, growing large gardens, canning vegetables, preparing meals from scratch as well as milking several cows twice a day. In order to stay busy, Bernice worked at Polaris Industries for 25 years. In retirement they spent several years enjoying friends and the beautiful sunshine in south Florida during the winter months, until the spring of 2019 when her health prevented her from continuing. She moved into Oakcrest Senior Living, meeting new friends and reacquainting with others. She thoroughly enjoyed their company.

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