Bernice L. Compton, 87, Sturgis, died Thursday, May 26, 2011, at the Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be noon until 9 p.m. on Monday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Pastor Denzel Nonhof and Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating. Burial follows at the Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to the American Heart Association for research.

Bernice was born June 13, 1923 at Highmore, SD, to Benjamin and Edith (Morford) Sutfin. The first ten years of her life were spent in Hyde County, SD, near Highmore, where the family lived.

When she was five years old, the untimely death of her mother left her and her four sisters and one younger brother, motherless. Two years later her father married Daphne Boomer, a spinster school teacher, whose goal in life was to be of help where help was needed.

In the spring of 1933, Bernice moved with her father, stepmother, and brother, near Opal, SD, in Meade County, to reside on her step mother's homestead. It was at this point the family became divided, although remaining in contact with one another, because her four sisters remained in Hyde County with relatives and friends.

Bernice's elementary education was in rural schools in Hyde and Meade Counties. She received her high school education at Rapid City. She then attended Black Hills Teacher's College at Spearfish for one year where she received a First Grade Teacher's certificate. She taught in rural Meade County schools for four terms, near Rapid City and Plainview.

On June 16, 1946, she was married to Glen Compton at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis. The couple made their home on a ranch near Plainview. Three children came to bless this union, Evelyn Marie, Kenneth Harlan, and Robert Lyle. As the children grew, she became more active in community events; the school house cleaning in the fall, helping with 4H activities and other social events, and providing lunches for the Bible School teachers.

She loved to visit with family, friends, and neighbors.

Bernice moved to Sturgis in January 2000. She returned to the farm in May of 2000 and once again moved to Sturgis in February 2001. She moved into the Sturgis Regional Senior Care in June of 2007.

Survivors include her three children, Evelyn (Wayne) Sheely, Sturgis, SD; Kenneth Compton, Duluth, MN, and Robert (Jennifer) Compton, Howes, SD; grandchildren Lance Sheely, Denver, CO, and Leanne Sheely, Sturgis, SD; two sisters in law, Laura Compton, Spearfish, Edith "Edie" Sutfin, Tucson, AZ; also numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Bernice was preceded in death by her mother, father, stepmother, husband Glen of 53 years, four sisters, one brother, five brothers in law, two sisters in law, two nieces and three nephews.