Bernice Schauer

Bernice Schauer, 86, Jamestown, ND died Thursday June 6, 2024 at the Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Bernice (Dewald) Schauer was born on May 6, 1938, near Lehr, ND. (Logan County). She is the daughter of Ted & Rosella (Graf) Dewald. She lived with her family on a farm/junction grocery store 8 miles north of Lehr. She also lived in Burnstad, ND for a short interim. The family moved to Streeter, ND in 1948 at the age of 10 where the family owned the Fairway Grocery Store. Bernice graduated from Streeter High School in 1955. She was active on the school paper, the school annual, girls’ basketball team, and cheerleading.

     Bernice attended Valley City State University and received her Standard teaching certificate in 1958   and her Bachelor of Science Degree in 1972. She taught in a rural school south of Eldridge and later in the Jamestown Public School for 25+ years.

    She married Floyd F. Schauer on November 4, 1956. They lived in Wahpeton, Jamestown, Valley City, Grand Forks, ND and North Platte, Nebraska while her husband worked for NW Bell Telephone Co. and later for the Federal Aviation Agency. In 1965, they moved to Jamestown for a second time and lived there for 50+ years.

     She is the mother of 4 children, Cheryl (Charles) Merry, Burnsville, MN, Douglas (Laurie) Schauer, Jamestown, ND, Sandra (Howard) Gilje, Detroit Lakes, MN, and Tom (Lisa) Schauer, Bismarck, N.D. She has 10 Grandchildren and 4 Great grandchildren. 

     She is a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Jamestown where she has served on the church council as Christian Educ. Leadership for 28 years and on other positions as Pastor Parish, Social Concerns and Finance committee.  She was a member of Woman’s Circle in G. Forks, N. Platte and Jamestown and served as President for the United Methodist Women group for a 3-year term. 

     Bernice and a neighbor organized a neighborhood 4-H club and was the leader for three years. Her goal for her two daughters were for them was to learn how to cook, sew and money management which 4 -H helped. She belonged to the Jamestown Quilters Guild and a Bridge Club. She was a leader as Den Mother, Den Mother Coach and on the Scouting Fair Committee. Her two boys both achieved their Eagle Awards with her encouragement & support.

 Over the years, she tutored Vietnamese, Cambodian & Russian Refuge families that arrived in Jamestown, in teaching them the English as a Second Language. 

    After retirement from teaching in 1997, Bernice and her husband spend their winters in Surprise, AZ. She continued being active in things such as the computer club, “quilts for kids,” Sunflower Stitchers, Sunflower Church Council and tutoring Hispanic Adults in a nearby Community Center. 

    She was a Substitute teacher in the Jamestown Public School for six years after retirement. She enjoyed crafts, quilting, reading, Sudoku puzzles and traveling.