Bernice Ann Sparr

Bernice Ann (Schmidt) Sparr, 74, passed away on Friday, June 17, with her family around her, after a sudden illness at the University of Washington hospital in Seattle.

Born on December 15, 1936 in Hazelton, N.D., the youngest daughter of Ted and Emma Schmidt, Bernice was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

Although, she was born in North Dakota, Bernice moved to Hardin, then Billings, as a child and lived the rest of her life between Billings and the Sparr family ranch in Roberts.

Bernice and her husband of 53 years, Sam, raised their boys, Sam Jr. and Jay in Lockwood, with many summers and weekends spent on the ranch in Roberts, working with the cattle, haying and taking care of fences, ditches, stray cats and geese. Bernice loved animals and always saw that her pets or those that "adopted" her were well taken care of. In later years, Bernice especially enjoyed getting around the ranch easily on her own ATV.

Another favorite activity was playing gambling machines with her sister Betty, both locally and on trips to Nevada.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Sam Sr., sons Sam Jr. (Shelly), Jay (Cindy); grandchildren Samuel, Colter, Jordan and Julia; sister Betty (Jim) Goodman, brother Richard (Carla) Schmidt; and many special nieces and nephews.

All those who knew her best will always remember her ever-present sense of humor. She was playing jokes on her family, making them laugh, even in her last days.

Cremation has taken place, and no formal services are planned, at Bernice's request. A small family memorial is planned for the near future.

The family would like to thank all those at UWMC who spent those last days with Bernice and her family, making her comfortable and doing all they could for her, especially Dr. Aldea, Dr. Cheng and their team of specialists.

For those who wish to do so, memorials may be made to the Animal Shelter.

When you think of Bernice, remember the words of her grandson, Jordan, "I would like to celebrate her life, not mourn her death."