Berniece Jefford

Berniece D. Jefford, 93, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa, died Sunday, December 5, 2010 at Genesis Medical Center, East Campus, Davenport.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at St. James Lutheran Church in Bettendorf. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the services on Wednesday at the church, where she was a member. Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church or to the family.

Berniece was born August 11, 1917 in Shenandoah, Iowa, the daughter of Henry & Augusta (Vogel) Connett. She was united in marriage to Corbett L. Jefford on January 23, 1935 in Glassford, Illinois. He preceded her in death on October 1, 1977.

Berniece, together with her husband, owned and operated the former Midway Recreation Lanes in Davenport. She also was a baker, specializing in pie-making, for many area restaurants. Additionally, she was employed at Oscar Meyer for nineteen years.

She was a diehard and very loyal Chicago Cubs fan. Berniece also enjoyed playing bingo, going to the casinos, playing poker at Spruce Hills Village and playing cards and Yahtzee with her sister, Betty. She also enjoyed fishing and cooking.

A self-made mother, Berniece attended school in a one-room county school and taught the meaning of love and family to her own family. She was able to take care of herself throughout her entire life. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, being a good sport and she will be deeply missed.

Those left to honor her memory include her daughters, Patsy Karasek of Murray, Kentucky, Diana Rohlfs of Bettendorf and Judy Larson of Bettendorf; her sons, Ralph (Pat) Jefford of Diamond City, Arkansas and Fred Jefford of Bettendorf; sixteen grandchildren; forty great-grandchildren; sixteen great-great grandchildren; her sister, Betty Knudsen of Dixon, Illinois; her sister-in-law, Beth Jefford; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and many close friends.

In addition to her husband, Corbett, Berniece was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Corbett Edward “Corky”; her grandchildren, Shane Rohlfs, Cherie Ritacco, Charlee Wooster, Stephen Jefford and Jeffrey Karasek; her sisters, Lenora and Joyce; and her brother, Wilbur.

The family would like to express special thanks to the staff of Genesis Medical Center, East Campus Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit and to Dr. Humphrey Wong.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Berniece’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.