Bernice Kruse

Bernice M. Kruse, 85, of rural Hillsboro, died of multiple myeloma, at 4:12 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, 2004, at her home.

      The Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31 at St. John's Catholic Church in Houghton, with the Rev. Gary Beckman officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the church with a rosary recited at 3 p.m. and a Christian vigil service at 7 p.m. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials have been established to St. John's Catholic Church and Henry County Hospice. Link Funeral Home in West Point is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include her husband; seven children, Laverne Hunting of Mt. Pleasant, Jim Kruse of Coatsville, Pa., Mark Kruse of Avon, Colo., Jan Menke of St. Paul, Joan Merschman of Perry, Fla., Diane Jett of Las Vegas, Nev.; and Dennis Kruse of Thorndale, Pa.; and 20 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

      She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, a granddaughter, three brothers and a sister.