Bernice Anna Pyette, died of natural causes, Saturday May 2, 2009, at her home. Her prayer vigil service will be 7 p.m. Tuesday May 5, 2009, at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home and her funeral Mass will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at the St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the services at the graveside.

Bernice was born Sept. 10, 1921, in Havre, Mont. to Arthur and Gertrude (Fitzgerald) Heeter. She was raised and educated in Havre. Bernice married Jerome Pyette July 20, 1940, in Havre. The couple made their home in Chinook, Mont. and began their family together raising six children. The Pyette family moved to Hysham, Mont. In 1962 for Jerome's profession and then on to Billings, Mont. in 1971, and finally settled in Havre in 1981.

Bernice was a very creative and talented woman, who mastered any talent she chose. She started with ceramics and then moved into porcelain dolls, holding doll-making classes in her home. She was an excellent seamstress, she grew beautiful flowers and her home and yard were always immaculate. She would help her daughter Lynnette in her greenhouses and in her flower shop on every holiday. Her talents are far too numerous to describe and they have touched so many people. Bernice's favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, when she would make sure her entire family was together. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, V.F.W. Auxiliary, Eagles, and she was in charge of the blood bank in Chinook for many years. She was a member of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Chinook and St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Havre.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 64 years, Jerome Pyette, in 2001, and her son Leroy in 1983; three sisters, Marie (Mame); Margaret and Blanche. Bernice is survived by her children, Jerry (Ellen) Pyette of Chinook, Mont., Lynnette (Glenn) Friede of Chinook, Mont., Mike (Twila) Pyette of Cut Bank, Mont., Margaret (Mick) Mellett of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Pat (Terri) Pyette of Chinook, Mont.; one sister, Beverly (Ken) Marshall of Tennessee; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.

Havre Daily News, Havre, MT, 5 May 2009