Bernadine Lucille (Arends) King

Bernadine (Bernie) King closed her eyes for the last time on Saturday, April 26, 2014. She faced cancer with optimism and hope. Bernie was born November 17, 1939 in Williams, Iowa to Bernard Arends and Iva Alberta Harrah Arends. She learned to work hard as a farm girl, where, as she liked to recount, she was “scolded in the summer if she had her shoes on and in the winter if she had them off.” Despite her short stature, she played on the girls’ basketball team, which is a testament to her determination. Since 1980 she made her home among her many friends in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Variously, she worked as a stay at home mother, a book-keeper, a town clerk, a drill press operator, a data processor, a restaurateur, liquor store owner, club proprietor, used car dealer, bartender, and full time volunteer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2278. In 2012, she received a Senior Hero Award for her work at the VFW, where she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, and the Honor Society, the Cooties; she was also a member of the Women of the Moose. Bernie leaves four children to quote her frequent sayings (“I heard that.”) and carry on her independent spirit: Rai Peterson (Karla Kirby), Carmel, Indiana; Rick Peterson (Christy), Hot Springs, Arkansas; Marsha (Russ Tell) Peterson, Ankeny, Iowa; and David Peterson, Hot Springs, Arkansas. A daughter, Ardeth Ann, was born and died in 1962. On February 7, 2009 she married the love of her life, Ralph King, retired Command Sergeant Major with the the U. S. Army Special Forces. Bernie was courageous. She was unafraid to tackle any project or fix any thing, even if it meant changing her life radically or starting over with nothing. Everyone who knew her admired her energy, intelligence, and potato salad recipe. Bernie King was pre-deceased by her parents and her brother-in-law Axel Eugene Olson. She is survived by her husband, four of her children, and siblings Betty Olson, Fort Dodge Iowa; Fern (Varlen) Carlson, Stanhope, Iowa; Bernard Ben (Donna) Arends, Nevada, Iowa. She got to know fourteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30th at the VFW Hall, 2231 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901, with Wade Beam officiating. As was Bernie’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ladies Auxiliary.

Bernadine Lucille (Arends) King

November 17, 1939 - April 26, 2014