Bernita Hicks, 85, formerly of White and Toronto, SD, passed away on August 29, 2024, at the Hendricks Nursing Home in Hendricks, MN.  Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 2, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in White.  Burial will immediately follow the service at Fairview Cemetery in White.  All are invited back to the church after burial to share in a meal and time of fellowship.  Visitation will be held the evening prior, Sunday, September 1, 2024, from 5 until 7 p.m., also at the church.

Bernita Jean (McClard) Hicks was born on February 6, 1939, at rural Estelline, SD to Clifford and Fredricka Willemenia (IntVeld) McClard.  She spent her youth growing up around Estelline.

She married Russell Delbert Hicks on September 20, 1956.  They were blessed with four children to their marriage, one son and three daughters: Randy (Krystal) Hicks, of White, SD, Gayleen (Lanny) Svennes of Toronto, SD, Cynthia (Randy) Willmott, of White, SD, and Diane Mersbergen, of White, SD.  Bernita was blessed with 11 grandchildren and their spouses, 33 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Bernita worked side by side on the farm with Russell in their early married years.  She hauled lots of lunches to the field while he worked.  She worked for a few years at the Good Samaritan Home in Clear Lake.  In 1971, she began working as a teacher's aide for the Deubrook School District.  She loved helping kids learn.  In 1977, they bought the school buses and she drove a bus route, to lots of ballgames, and enjoyed all the time that she spent with all the students.  They owned the buses for 22 years, and she continued to drive for 4 years after selling them.  Russell passed away in September 2002.  Bernita sold their home and moved into Toronto in 2004.  In 2004, she returned to work as a library aide at the school.

Her hobby was baking and decorating cakes of all kinds: wedding, graduation, birthday, and whatever you wanted.  She enjoyed cooking, baking, and going to coffee with community ladies until she moved to the Hendricks Nursing Home.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church of White, SD.  Spending time with all of her family was the biggest joy of her life!

She survived by siblings: Barb Rossman of Watertown, SD, Harry McClard, of Rockwall, TX, Beverly (Myron) Peterson, of Dazy, ND, Beatrice Heismeyer, of Brookings, Bert McClard of Wichita, KS, and brother-in-law David (Verna) Hicks, of White, SD.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Russell, brother-in-laws, Lyle Rossman and Gerry Heismeyer, and sister-in-laws Darlene McClard and Mary McClard.