Bernice Esther (Laeger) Gackle was born January 8, 1925 on the family farm southwest of Kulm, ND. She entered into her eternal home on April 19, 2017 at Sheyenne Crossing Care Center in West Fargo ND. Viewing will be at Dahlstrom Funeral Home in Kulm ND Friday, April 28th from 5 to 7 pm with a Prayer Service at 7:00 pm. The funeral service will be on Saturday, April 29th at 10:30 am at the First Congregational Church. Burial will be at the Kulm Cemetery next to her husband, Robert Otto Gackle, son of Otto and Alice Gackle, both deceased. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents August and Helena (Hildebrand) Laeger, and her brother and his wife, James and Alice (McCone) Laeger.

Bernice received her elementary education in the German Country School. She attended Kulm High School, and graduated in 1943. In high school she was a member of the Girls Glee Club, the Mixed Chorus, and the Spotlight Staff as Grade Editor. In the fall of 1943 she attended the Dakota Business College in Fargo ND, after which she pursued full time employment in Minneapolis, MN with Western Electric Company, and a part time position as a Secret Shopper. In the fall of 1945 she returned to her family farm and took the position of instructor at the German Country School. Bernice was married to Robert Otto Gackle on October 26, 1947. They settled in Kulm where they raised three children, Wesley, Roberta, and Ann. She spent some time as a substitute teacher in the Kulm schools. Robert worked for Gackle Bros., his family's business, which included a hardware store where she worked as a bookkeeper. They became owners of the business, and their son, Wesley and wife Cheryl (Lindgren) joined them in 1976. Robert and Bernice were members of the First Congregational Church where Bernice taught a Junior High Sunday school class. Bernice was a member of the Kulm Homemakers Club, the Kulm Civic League, and the Republican Women's Organization. Bernice was admired for her skills in organizing, cooking, decorating, landscaping, and floral arranging. She enjoyed little children, good conversation, and "good music," and she liked to reminisce about growing up on the farm, water skiing, and toboggan rides.

She quietly and consistently held on to her simple faith and beliefs, loved her family first, her community, and her Country, and gave back where she could. These words summarize Bernice's life: Love, Patience, Perseverance, and Home. She will be missed.

Bernice is survived by her three children, Wesley (Cheryl Lindgren) Gackle, Roberta Gackle, and Ann (Mike) Potts; six grandchildren, Emily, Joel (Kristin Topp), Kristen Gackle, and Ellen (Jake Nystrom, fiance'), Anthony, and Nathan Potts; two great grandchildren, Levi and William, six nephews, and three nieces.