Sister Bernice Simon, OSB, 72, died Monday, Aug. 28, 2006, at St. Martin Monastery, Rapid City, Iowa, after battling leukemia for several years.

The sixth child in a family of seven, Bernice Margaret Simon was born March 9, 1934, at New Prague, Minn., to James and Mary (Kubes) Simon. She attended parochial grade school at Veseli Catholic. Following graduation from New Prague High School in 1951, she attended St. Cloud State College for a year. She entered St. Martin's Convent, Sturgis, S.D., on Aug. 28, 1954. She received the Benedictine habit on July 12, 1955, and made monastic profession on July 16, 1956, followed by perpetual monastic profession three years later.

Being a nurses' aide during high school convinced her of her calling to that profession. She began nurses' training in the fall of 1959 at St. John's McNamara School of Nursing, Rapid City, S.D., and later worked on the medical and surgical floors and as night supervisor at St. John's Hospital. She obtained certification as a registered nurse, received a Bachelor of Science degree in biological science from Mercy College, Detroit, a Master of Science degree in guidance and counseling from SDSU, and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from University of Mary with emphasis on care of the terminally ill.

Never a person to concentrate only on one ministry, Sister Bernice also was a classroom teacher. She taught at St. Martin's Grade School, Sturgis, and at St. Catherine's School, Laguna Beach, Calif. From 1964-1972 she taught at St. Martin's Academy, Rapid City, where she was also school nurse, dormitory supervisor, and coordinator of athletic activities. At a critical time at the Academy in 1984, she was principal for several months.

From 1975-1984, Sister Bernice directed St. Martin's Community Center. She served as liaison between River Park Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center and the Benedictine community. Her experience in spending a month at a Christian ashram in India in 1976 under the guidance of the late Father Bede Griffith, OSB and her association with Retreats International spurred her interest in helping others through retreats and spiritual direction.

In 1984, Sr. Bernice started ministry as a pastoral assistant at St. Richard's Church, Columbia Falls. Sisters Gemma Schatz, OSB and Lorane Coffin, OSB joined her in establishing Epiphany Monastery there in 1990. Sr. Bernice began working part-time at the Montana State Veterans' Home, Columbia Falls, and eventually spent more than 20 years there, most of them as assistant director of nurses. She was appointed superior of Epiphany Monastery in 2000 and also directed the Benedictine Oblates connected with the monastery.

Due to illness, Sister Bernice resigned from the Veterans' Home staff in the spring of 2006. She returned to St. Martin Monastery in July where she celebrated her 50th jubilee of monastic profession on July 22.

Sister Bernice is survived by two brothers, Theodore of New Prague, Minn., and Bernard, her twin, of Anchorage, Alaska; two sisters, Marion Tuma of Le Center, Minn., and Alice Schanus of Lonsdale, Minn.; many nieces and nephews; and by her Benedictine Sisters.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

Funeral services at St. Martin Monastery for Sr. Bernice include a vigil service at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, and Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, with Most Rev. Blase Cupich, Rapid City, presiding. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery.

A memorial has been established.

Osheim-Catron Funeral Home of Rapid City is in charge of arrangements.