Bernice R. Stephenson

Bernice R. Stephenson, 88, died Friday August 8, 2008 at the Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kansas. She was born June 21, 1920 in Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Mikahl and Aleksandra Gubar Rochoza. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Russia and worked in the meat packing industry. Bernice attended St. Joseph"s elementary school where she was taught in both English and Polish and graduated from Wyandotte high school. After high school she worked in a law office as a legal secretary. She was an active member of the Republican party. She loved baseball and played on an all girl baseball team in St. Margret"s Park. Her team was coached by Frank Sadecki, the father of Ray Sadecki who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals. The team won the league championship seven years in a row. In while dating a professional baseball player, she attended the All Star game in Chicago"s Comiskey Park. Following the game Bernice was presented a baseball signed by the American League players which included Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Bobby Doerr, Bob Lemon, Hoot Evers and George Kell. Later that year she met the love of her life, John Robert Stephenson and the two were married October 16, 1951 at St. Joseph"s Church in Kansas City, Kansas. They had a traditional Russian-Polish wedding where the celebrations lasted three days. This was not fully explained to the young groom who was prepared to whisk his bride off on their honeymoon following the initial reception. However he was coaxed into returning his bride for the continuing celebration of family and friends. The young couple moved to La Porte, Texas where John worked as a pipefitter. In May 1953 they moved to Paola and soon after purchased a farm near Somerset, Kansas where they lived the rest of their married life. In December of 1956 their daughter Mary was born. Two sons followed in 1959 and 1963 but both pregnancies terminated early in miscarriage. Bernice was a homemaker and raised her daughter. She did voluntary work for many years at Holy Trinity Elementary School in Paola. She also was the Girl Scout leader of Troop 222 in Paola from 1956 " 1972. The Miami County Girl Scout Day Camp was held on the Stephenson farm several years during that time period. Bernice was a charter member of the Miami County Historical Society and spent many volunteer hours working on the development of the Swan River Museum. She was also a member of the Chiles / Wagstaff Homemaker"s Extension Unit. She was a collector of fruit jars, books and other antiques. Bernice enjoyed going to auctions, antique shops and book sales. Bernice loved outdoors and the study of plants and flowers and could identify almost any edible wild green. Each year she fervently looked forward to the arrival of morel mushroom season and the picking of stinging nettle greens. Many a summer night was spent outdoors near a campfire watching the stars with her daughter. Bernice loved her grandchildren and devoted herself to helping care for them while her daughter finished her college education and law school. Luckily the grandchildren never had to attend a daycare and instead were under the watchful eye of "Grandma Bece." Preceding her in death are her husband John who died in 1972, two sisters, two brothers and a grandson. She is survived by her daughter Mary Stephenson, granddaughter Katie Casey, grand son-in-law Eli Casey and grandson Nick Hosack. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 15, 2008 at Penwell-Gabel Louisburg Chapel. Burial will be at Somerset Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time on Friday. The family suggest memorials be given to the Miami County Historical Society, Paola, Kansas.