Bernice Stropes

Bernice D. Stropes, 105, of Chilhowee, MO formerly of Orion, died Friday, August 10, 2018, in Chilhowee.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Orion United Methodist Church, 407 12th Avenue, Orion.   Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.  Following services there will be fellowship time with the family and a light luncheon and coffee served at the church.  In Lieu of flowers, Bernice asked that memorials may be given to her family for a fund to be established in her name that was special to her.  Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., is assisting the family.

Bernice was born on December 23, 1912, in a farmhouse in Bowling Township, Rock Island County, Illinois, the daughter of Nellie Emma (Moffitt) and Lawrence Allen Liphardt.  Bernice was blessed with a loving family and was raised with her siblings, Mary Lois, John Lawrence, Clara “Millie” Mildred and Vera Mae.  She graduated from high school in Rock Island in 1929 and later received her teaching certificate.  She married Delbert Glenn Stropes in June 27, 1934, in the bay window of her parents’ home in Taylor Ridge.  Their daughter, Margery was born first followed by a son, Ray, a few years later.

Her first teaching job was at Curry School where Bernice herself had graduated, then for a year at Excelsior School west of Taylor Ridge and later in Coyne Center.  She graduated from Augustana College Cum Laude in 1962 and retired from teaching in 1973.  She enjoyed fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada with her family and visited numerous countries including the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Indonesia, and Monaco, as well as other countries in Europe.  Bernice was a member of the Orion United Methodist Church where she enjoyed Bible study, was active with different groups and spent time sewing for Missions groups.  Above all, Bernice loved to be with her family.

Survivors include her children, Ray (Susan) Stropes, Missouri, and Margery (John) Schenk, Rock Island; 6 grandchildren, Richard (Beth) Stropes, David (Denise) Stropes, Matthew (Laura) Stropes, Steven Hutt, Daniel Hutt, and Lynn Leffler; several great grandchildren; numerous great, great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert, on January 16, 1984, parents, 3 sisters, Millie, Vera, and Mary and her brother, John.

Memories may be shared on the tribute wall.