Fern Berndt

Fern A. Berndt

Fern Berndt, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, was born on February 25, 1936, in St. Paul, Minnesota to Henry and Ella Adams (Kirchmeier). She passed away peacefully on February 27, 2025, at the age of 89, surrounded by the love of her family.

Fern grew up in St. Paul and graduated from Johnson High School in 1954. She went on to complete the Dental Assistant program at the University of Minnesota. Her professional life included time as a Dental Assistant, working with the White Bear Schools lunch program, and serving as a Switchboard Operator at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood - where she not only made a difference in the lives of others but also formed treasured lifelong friendships. Fern cherished her faith and was an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake for 63 years where she sang in the choir and participated in various volunteer and social activities.

In August of 1957, Fern married her childhood sweetheart, Bill Berndt, whom she first met in Sunday School. Their love story spanned 58 beautiful years until Bill's passing in 2016. Their devotion to each other was an inspiration to all who knew them, and Fern's gentle spirit and unwavering love will continue to live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Together, Fern and Bill had two children, Lisa Edison (Tom) and Larry Berndt (Barb), as well as four grandchildren, Joe and Katy Edison; Sam (Allie) and Elizabeth Berndt, and two great grandchildren, Jack and Charlie Berndt, all of whom meant the world to her. Fern was incredibly close to her cousins, often referring to them as her brothers and sisters, which is a value that she instilled in the family, as is demonstrated by multiple generations of closeness still today. Always the life of the party, Fern looked forward to any opportunity to have the extended family together, whether it be a birthday, a holiday or the opportunity to shop and spoil her grandkids!

A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, at noon at Bradshaw Funeral in Stillwater, MN with a visitation beginning at 11 a.m. The service will be followed by a short reception with sweet treats and a private burial at Fairview Cemetery.