Bernice Gaffey, 93, of Redfield, SD, died Friday, January 25, 2013 at the Order of the Eastern Star Home in Redfield.

Her funeral will be Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at Eastern Star Home Chapel in Redfield. Pastor Lorah Houser Jankord will officiate. After the funeral, Bernice will be cremated and her ashes will be buried at a later date.

Visitation will be Monday from 3-7:00 p.m. with her family present from 5-7 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield, SD. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Bernice Tott was born December 20, 1919 in Tulare, SD to Henry John "Bob" and Esther (Gieseke) Tott. She graduated from Tulare High School in 1937 and Ravenswood Nurses School in Chicago in 1941. Bernice served as nurse in the United States Army reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant. She served during WWII from 1943 to 1946, specializing in orthopedic cases in Luzon and New Guinea. Bernice married Neil Gaffey and they lived in Ohio, Chicago and Redfield. She worked as a registered nurse for many years in Redfield.

Bernice enjoyed baking cookies to share with friends and going to rummage sales. She had a special place in her heart for dogs.


Bernice is survived by her daughter Marguerite "Peggy" (Bob) Bennett of Sioux Falls, SD.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Julius Tott and Harold Tott, her sisters Harriet Zeitler and Alice Nelson.