Bernice Tompte

Bernice Tompte, 94, of Rochester, died Friday, July 23, 2010 at the Seasons Hospice House in Rochester. Bernice Brevig was born on April 21, 1916 to Osmund and Anna (Kleve) Brevig in Houston County, MN.She began her teaching career at age nineteen in a one room school in Rose Prairie community near Chatfield, then in the North Prairie community near Utica and in the Stockton Schools. After receiving her two year degree at Winona State College in 1942, she taught school in St. Charles and Rochester's Hillside School. She received her BS in Elementary Education at Winona State College in 1967. At which time, she was employed by the Rochester Public Schools, teaching first grade at Holmes School and later at Gage. She retired in 1978.After WWII, Bernice married Ernest Tompte on May 31, 1947 and they were married for 58 years. Ernest preceded her in death September 22, 2005. They had one daughter, Julianne (Dean) Stenehjem of Rochester; two grandsons, Dr. David (Kate) Stenehjem of Salt Lake City and their daughter, Kjella, and Dr. Edward Stenehjem (Sarah Stotz) of Atlanta, GA. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brothers, Aldin, Melvin and Odin.She belonged to the National Retired Teacher's Association, Retired Educators of Minnesota, and Retired Educators of SE Minnesota. She was a member of the Son's of Norway Lodge and actively participated in her chuch, Zumbro Lutheran Church.The funeral service will be Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Zumbro Lutheran Church with the Reverend Vern Christopherson officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Seasons Hospice, Madonna Meadows, or Zumbro Lutheran Church.