Berniece Elaine Marie Botner, 95, Valley City, ND formerly of Litchville, ND, passed on to be with her heavenly Father October 29, 2024. Visitation will be 5:30 pm to 7 pm, Friday, November 1 at the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City with a prayer service at 6 pm.  The funeral service will be 3 pm Saturday, November 2 at the First Lutheran Church, Litchville.  Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.  Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Litchville.

Berniece Elaine Marie Bubach was born December 10, 1928, at home to Herbert and Clara (Lebahn) Bubach. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church at Griswold. She attended High School at Litchville and graduated in 1946. After graduation, Berniece taught country school in Prairie Township and in Conway, ND. She attended college in Valley City in 1952.

She was united in marriage to Byron Botner on June 21, 1949, at Trinity Lutheran Church.  They had 5 children… Lynette, Gary, Joey, Bradley and Scott. She stayed home to care for the children until 1967 when she returned to the workforce and became a teacher’s aide and bus driver for the Litchville district.  Berniece loved working with kids of all ages. She retired in 2006 and because of Byron’s poor health, they moved to Valley City.

After retirement, Berniece became a quilter… making Granny quilts. She made quilts for family, for new babies, graduations and weddings, also for relatives, friends and mission projects. She played many games of pinochle, whist and bingo. Berniece loved every bit of all the things she managed to do!!

Berniece is survived by her children, Lynette (Jeff) Meiers, Ross, ND; Gary (Bernadette), Valley City; Joey (Nancy), Litchville; Bradley (Lori), Litchville; Scott (Arlene), Jamestown; a brother Selmer, Valley City; sisters-in-law, Darlene Bubach, Colorado; and Bonnie Bubach, Minnesota; grandchildren, Angela (Cole) Garrison, Minot, ND; Kelly (Tanner) Sandstrom, New Town, ND; Lindsey (Josh) Moe, New Town; Brianna (Kelley) Meiers, Stanley, ND; Brandon Botner, Fargo, ND; Paul (Lisa) Johnson, Valley City; Heather Johnson, York, SC; Ryan (Amanda) Botner, Washburn, ND; Lacey (Randy) Klein, Buffalo, ND; Kelsey Botner, Valley City; Jenna (Louis) Kluting, Fargo; JoAnn (Corey) Rood, Casselton, ND; twenty-two great-grandchildren, Arley and Boden Garrison; Kace and Sloane Sandstrom; Liam and Madison Lizotte and Jack Moe; Dylan and Jerzee Johnson; Will, Sebastian, Lucy, Gianna, Ada Beth and Joelle Botner; Olivia, Mila and Jocelyn Rood; Finley and Rowdy Klein; Roman Kolina; Hayden Kluting. Many Nieces and Nephews.

Don’t cry because I’m gone, Smile because I lived!!