Bernice Peterson, of Montevideo, died on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 85. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, May 6, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. at the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel in Montevideo with Pastor Tim Cook and Pastor John Runyon officiating. Interment in the Bellingham City Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo. Bernice Mae (Klefsaas) Peterson was born on May 8, 1925 in Appleton, MN to Martin and Emma (Knipp) Klefsaas. She grew up attending school in Bellingham, MN and graduated from Bellingham High School in 1943. She married Omer A. Peterson in 1944. She worked at various jobs during WWII in Colorado Springs, CO, Portland, OR and in Arizona. Bernice moved to Montevideo MN and in 1956 began working for Northwestern Bell telephone Company as a telephone Operator. She retired in 1981 after twenty-five years with the company. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers. She enjoyed writing letters and corresponding with family and friends, taking walks, baking and making lefse. She is survived by her children: Todd Peterson of Springfield, OR; Terry (and Jeanne) Peterson of Litchfield, MN; Pep (and Tim) Cook of Detroit Lakes, MN and Mark (and Julie) Peterson of Montevideo, MN; grandchildren: Eric and Mark Peterson; Natalie Burgess-Tucker, Jessica Nelson, Stephan and Hannah Peterson, Stacie Pung, Randy Cook, Janny Anderson and John and Annie Peterson; eleven great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Margaret Klefsaas of Bellingham, MN and special friends, Renee Pfenning and Troy and Lisa Larson. She was preceded in death by her parents and by a brother Loren Klefsaas.