Notes for Elizabeth BICKLER

SISTER M. BERNARDINE BICKLER, O.S.F.>> Sister M. Bernardine (Elizabeth )
Bickler, O.S.F., 90, entered intoeternal life March 17, 2004, in Saint
Francis Convent, Hankinson, ND.>> Sister Bernardine was born to Lewis and
Katherine (Thomas) Bickler October11, 1913. Before she was two years old,
Sister Bernardine experienced thedeath of her mother. Her father then married
Barbara Bohl, and from thisunion nine children were born.>> Sister
Bernardine grew up on her parents' farm near Orrin, ND, andattended grade
school in Balta. She came to Saint Francis Convent in 1932.She attended Saint
Francis Academy and was received into the novitiate ofthe Sisters of Saint
Francis August 11, 1935. She made her First Professionof Vows August 12,
1935, and her Perpetual Profession August 16, 1938.>> Sister Bernardine
graduated with a Bachelor of Science in NursingEducation from Loyola
University, Chicago. In addition, she received adiploma in Post Graduate Work
in Obstetrical Nursing from Saint Elizabeth'sHospital, Chicago. She fulfilled
the requirements of North Dakota governingthe examination of nurses, and was
entitled to practice professional nursingas a Registered Nurse. She obtained
her R.N. Certificate June 26, 194l.>> Sister Bernardine was selected for the
1977 special award given annuallyby the North Dakota Hospital Association. In
the award, she was cited forthe number of responsible positions in North
Dakota health care institutionsshe had held. These included: Obstetrical
Supervisor, Saint John's Hospital,Fargo, 1942-45; Acting Director of Nursing,
Saint John's Hospital, Fargo,1945-46; Administrator in Saint Elizabeth's
Hospital, Drayton, 1947-53;Towner County Memorial Hospital, Cando, 1953-62;
St. Gerard's CommunityHospital, Hankinson, 1962-74 and Oakes Community
Hospital, Oakes, 1975-77.>> In addition to her work in administration, she
performed outstandingservice as an officer of the ND Hospital Association and
the ND CatholicHospital Conference; she also served as a trustee of the Upper
MidwestHospital Conference and as the director of Blue Cross of North Dakota.
Sheserved on the provincial council of her religious community from 1962 to
1968.>> Retiring from hospital administration in 1977, Sister Bernardine
enjoyed asabbatical year taking courses in theology in the Credo Program in
Spokane,Washington. She helped in her Congregation's Generalate in Rome/La
Storta1980-82. After returning to Hankinson she helped at the switchboard and
wasactivities director for Saint Gerard's Nursing Home for five years.
Semi-retired, she helped as an R.N. and activities director for the elderly
Sisters in Saint Mary's Nursing Home unit in Saint Francis MotherhouseConvent
as long as her health permitted.>> She was preceded in death by her parents,
by a sister, Ludvina Volk,Fulda, ND, and by two brothers, Wendeline, Rugby,
and Michael, New Rockford,ND. She is survived by two brothers, Peter (Rose)
Bickler, Orrin, ND, andLouis Bickler, Balta; by four sisters, Margaret
Axtman, Rugby; Magdalen(Rummy) Hager, Fairfield, Montana; Rose (Marlyn)
Sperry, Coos Bay, Oregon;and Amy (Richard) Ellis, Brighton, Colorado, and by
many nieces and nephews.>> The funeral Mass for Sister Bernardine will be
Monday, March 22, 2004, inSaint Francis Convent Chapel, Hankinson, at 10:00
a.m.>