Bernice Koski

Bernice Mildred Koski nee Braaten, 96, died on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman, MI. Bernice was born December 24, 1925 in Wyndmere, ND. She went to school in a one-room schoolhouse. She received her nursing degree from the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. She began her nursing career in Virginia, MN where she met Leslie Koski, a Navy pilot home from World War II. They married in 1948. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. After the war they moved to the Navy towns of Whidbey Island, San Diego, and Pensacola, and then settled in Ohio after Leslie left active duty. They lived on Lieb’s Island on Buckeye Lake for 57 years and raised their family there. She worked as a nurse in that area until 1967 when she began to work for Nationwide Insurance, then the State of Ohio as a medical fraud investigator. She retired in 1987. She and Leslie enjoyed boating on Buckeye Lake, golfing, and traveling. They loved their family. Bernice, known as Bunny, volunteered for various school and other activities including band 4-H, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts. She was a member of the Monticello Mothers’ Club, and was active at Grace Lutheran Church in Thornville, where she was a member for over 60 years. After moving to Michigan she attended Saron Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, MI.
She was preceded in death by her husband Leslie Koski, her parents Bernhard and Clara (Skare) Braaten, her siblings Newman, Gladys, Iver, Adeline, Boyd, and Norris, and son-in-law Don Kain. She is survived by her children Randy (Katie) Koski, Kristine Koski Kain, Carol (Don) Hafer, grandchildren Christopher, Leslie, and Jon Koski, Eydie (Curt) Hoskinson, Ben (Kelly) Phelps, Tim (Rhianna) Hafer, and Cory (Jocelyn) Hafer, seven great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, her sister Clara Mellum, and beloved nieces and nephews. She loved hosting family and was a generous hostess. She was fiercely competitive in card games and loved to have fun. She resided at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman, MI for over six years, where she welcomed and nurtured new residents. The family thanks the staff at Woodland Terrance – they were her family while she lived there.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 P.M., Friday, November 18, 2022 at Saron Lutheran Church, 510 Main St., St. Joseph, MI 49085 with Pastor Joan Oleson officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M., Friday at the church. Burial will take place at a later date at Millersport Cemetery in OH. Those wishing to share a memory of Bernice online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that donations be made to ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response (https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/Lutheran-Disaster-Response).