Harriet Bernardy

Harriet Ellen (Knapp) Bernardy, 89, of Minneota, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at the Minneota Manor in Minneota.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., Saturday, February 16 at the Rehkamp-Horvath Funeral Home in Minneota.

Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 16 at Rehkamp-Horvath Funeral Home in Minneota.

Burial will take place at a later date. She was born on September 21, 1929, in Sequim, Washington.

Harriet grew up on a dairy farm and graduated from Chimacum, Washington High School in 1947 as the Salutatorian of her school.

She went on to work in various jobs in Washington including a local paper mill. She met Gayle “Bud” Bernardy while he was stationed in Port Townsend, Washington, during the Korean Conflict.

During this time, Harriet and Gayle knew they met their “soul mate” and truly became best friends and partners.

Bud returned after he was discharged from the Army in 1953 as he missed his life partner and went back to marry his bride on July 7, 1953.

The couple moved to Minneota, where they would spend 65 years and seven months as a couple who loved being together (inseparable) and enjoyed their love and respect for one another.

Harriet worked at various jobs in Minneota and enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing, baking and sharing in her children’s lives.

She was very artistic and shared her love for art, reading, sewing and other craft work with her children.

She is survived by her husband Gayle “Bud” Bernardy; sons Terry (and Dorothy) of Little Falls, Michael of Redwood Falls, Dan (and Connie) of St. Paul; granddaughters Jennifer (and Tim) Sylvester of St. Paul, Amanda (and Gunner) Rush of Prior Lake, Shannon (and Pete) Nayquonabe of Onamia, Lisa (and Andy) Brown of St. Paul, Brielle of New Brighton, Kyla (and fiancé Brian Turner) of Yacolt, Washington, and a special Foreign Exchange granddaughter Ho Man “Sandy” Liu from Hong Kong.

She was blessed with 14 great-grandchildren.

She is survived by one nephew, Harold (and Sharon) Shonk of Augusta, Georgia, from her sister, and many Bernardy nieces and nephews from Bud’s family.

Harriet was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Hazel Knapp, sister Helen (Knapp) Johnson, and in-laws John and Minnie Bernardy.

Harriet Bernardy

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