Helen Berniece Kuehne

Helen Berniece Kuehne, 82, of Keller and Okanogan, WA., passed away August 20th, 2012, at the home of her daughter, Billie Timm, in Okanogan, WA.

Berniece was born on December 8, 1929 in Spokane, WA. To Arthur H. And Helen E. (Larson) Thiele.

She attended school in Tyler, WA. to the eighth grade. Then the family moved to the Republic area. There she worked at the Bailey Hotel as a waitress. In 1948, Berniece and her best friend Joyce (Maycumber) Nee went to Seattle and worked for an insurance company.

After they returned to Republic, Berniece married William G. Kuehne of Keller in May, 1949. To this union, Billie Jean and Donald Carson were born. Bernice and Bill ranched in the Keller area with his parents and younger brother, Henry. They were members of the Ferry County Cattlemen and were honored as Ferry County Cattlemen of the Year in the 1960’s.

She was a wife, mother, homemaker, ranch “go-fer”, and school bus driver, having driven for the Keller School District for 21 years. Later on, she and son Don owned and operated the Melody Restaurant in Coulee Dam for several years.

Berniece is survived by her daughter Billie (Pete) Timm of Okanogan; grandchildren Erin (Steve) Wallace of Hermiston, Or., Peter (Janelle) Timm of Duvall, WA., Carson (Jeri) Timm of Omak, Karie (Marv) Eagle of Almira, and Brandon (Kristina) Kuehne of Wilbur; great grandchildren Jenna and Jace Wallace, Jayden and Jayla Timm, Paisley Timm, Kaitlyn, Danielle, and Chelsea Eagle, and Kyler and Korbin Kuehne; sister Gerry Hilderbrant of Republic, brother Dude (Leola) Thiele of Curlew, and brother-in-law Henry (Gail) Kuehne of Keller, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, son Don, sister Betty, and brother Bob.

Services will be held Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Keller Community Center with burial at the Keller Cemetery. Bergh Funeral Home of Oroville is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the local animal shelter of your choice.

Please share your thoughts and memories by signing Berniece’s online guestbook at Berniece’s online guestbook at http://www.berghfuneralservice.com.