Bernice Hinthorn

Bernice Lucille (Hartman) Hinthorn, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on June 2, 2012, in Bozeman, MT. She was born May 20, 1916, in Washington, IL, to Joseph and Hazel (Fauber) Hartman. Bernice was 96 years old. Bernice graduated from Metamora Township High School in Metamora, IL, in 1934. Following graduation, she attended Eureka College in Eureka, IL. She began working in Peoria, IL, in 1937 as a secretary and was married to James L. Hinthorn on March 20, 1943. While Jim served in the US Navy during WWII, Bernice worked as a secretary on the naval base in Norfolk, VA. After the war, Jim and Bernice joined Jim’s father working the Hinthorn family farm in Hudson, IL. Bernice was an avid gardener, seamstress, and homemaker during the years on the farm. She also helped her husband with a seed corn business. She taught classes in cooking and home decorating for the McLean County Home Bureau. Bernice was a 4-H leader in McLean County, Illinois, for many years. After the death of her husband Jim, in 1963, Bernice moved with her two children to Normal, IL. She worked first as a teller and then an executive secretary at Citizen’s Savings Bank. In addition to her career, Bernice enjoyed playing bridge and attending events at Illinois State University with her many friends. Bernice loved to travel. She spent time in California visiting her sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Bill Owens. She toured Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in 1984 with her sister-in-law, Edith Hartman, and she was a frequent visitor to New York, Connecticut, Block Island, RI and Cancun, Mexico spending time with her family. Bernice was a sun worshipper and swimmer. Bernice retired in 1981 and moved to Peoria, AZ in 1997 where she spent time doing the things she loved most: visiting and entertaining family and exercising in the swimming pool. Fragile health necessitated a move in 2003 to Fairwinds, an assisted-living community in Idaho Falls, ID, and then finally, in 2008, she moved to the Gallatin Rest Home in Bozeman, MT, to be near her daughter, Leslie. Bernice is survived by her two children, Leslie H. Fantelli and James L. Hinthorn and their spouses, Floyd Fantelli of Bozeman, MT, and Pamela Hinthorn of Block Island, RI; eight grandchildren, Ted (Cindi) Willke, Bradford (Tara) Willke, Emily Fantelli, Beth Martel Austin, Melissa Culbert, Chad (Cathy) Koenig, Anne Fantelli Coan, and David Fantelli; eight great-grandchildren, Lydia Willke, Sean Martel, Molly Martel, Connor Martel, Chloe Austin, Jake Koenig, Ryan Coan, and Francesca Coan; and seven nieces and nephews. Bernice was a member of Lutheran Churches in Illinois and Arizona. A memorial service is planned for the summer in Hudson, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Gallatin Rest Home Auxiliary, 1221 W. Durston, Bozeman, MT 59715.