Bernice Herra

Bernice LaVerne Herra (Haht), the daughter of Ernest and Elizabeth Thomas Haht, was born Dec. 25, 1926, on the family farm in Paullina, Iowa. She received her education in a country school in O’Brien County.  
Bernice was confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina. She enjoyed the farm life very much and she met her future husband, William Zeeb, when he came through with a thrashing machine crew. They married Dec. 27, 1945.
They moved to Hermosa, S.D., after receiving a ranch job offer. After their first child was born they returned to Iowa to live where a second child was born. The family moved to Custer, S.D., in 1955. Two more children were born there.
Later on, Bernice married her second husband, Edward Herra. Bernice worked kitchens at Triple T, Dakota Cowboy and Crazy Horse.
Bernice passed away Nov. 14, 2023, at Seven Sisters living Center in Hot Springs, S.D. She was 96.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Elizabeth Haht; grandparents, Henri and Anna Haht; brothers, Delbert, Melvin, Henry and William; sister, Mildred; and her daughter, Cindy.
Bernice is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Rex) Nichols of Hot Springs, and Twila Abraham and Kay Mattox of Custer; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be planned for a future date.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.