Bernice Johnson Dorais

Bernice Johnson Dorais was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life so full of family, faith, and fond memories. She was such a beautiful, vibrant lady, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Most of all, Bernice was a woman who didnt just walk through life, she danced, to the song she heard in her heart every day. Bernices story began on a cold fall day in 1919, after the crops had been harvested in the rolling farmland of Monroe County, Iowa. Those were times of such great change in this country, which saw the blessed end of World War I and the start of Prohibition. Amid those changing times, Albert and Betty (Bloomgren) Hagglund experienced another big change, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl on November 26, a baby daughter they named Bernice Elizabeth. Bernice was the fourth of the couples six children in the familys home in Ottumwa, Iowa, where her father toiled as a janitor and ran a company store for the coal mining company, and her mother cared for the home. The Hagglunds were a close-knit family, and Bernice was very close to her older siblings Orville, Marvin and Viola, and looked after her younger brothers Paul and Virgil, too. The family attended the First Lutheran Church every Sunday, where the basis for Bernices great faith was formed (and her beautiful singing voice, too). Bernice was also an excellent student in school, and was a standout vocalist in many of the school productions. After she graduated from high school (with honors, no less), Bernice found work as a switchboard operator for the phone company. It was her personal life that was about to get more interesting, however. Bernice had grown into a beautiful, vibrant young woman, and caught the eye of a handsome young man at her church named Russell Johnson. He was five years older than she was, and was attending the Lutheran Seminary School in Illinois, but their attraction was mutual and they began dating. The couples courtship lasted the next four years, since Russell wasnt allowed to marry when he was in school. So after he graduated, they were quickly married in Ottumwa on June 22, 1941, at the First Lutheran Church. The newlyweds promptly relocated to Los Angeles, California, where Russell began his ministry. While in the City of Angels the couple was blessed with a little angel of their own, their first daughter, Sharon, born in 1943. The growing family moved back to Iowa in 1944, where Russell took a new ministry, and where they added to their family, too. Their daughter Sandy joined the clan in 1947, shortly before they packed up and moved to Kansas City. The couples congregation there grew under their stewardship, and they even built a bigger, brand-new church building. Bernice was the consummate pastors wife, supporting him in every way she could, and also served as the church soloist and guitarist In 1958, their daughter Sue rounded out the family. Bernice loved being a wife and especially mother, and lovingly made many of her daughters clothes over the years. She was an expert with needle and thread, and loved quilting and cross-stitch, too. She also was an incredible cook, whose Swedish rye bread and her holiday feasts were always unforgettable. She was best known for her legendary gravy, using her secret recipe that sadly remained so all her life. In 1961, the family moved one last time, to Muskegon, Michigan, where Russell became pastor at Samuel Lutheran Church, and where Bernice became so active in the LCW. She even served as the president for the Michigan LCW, as well. Her life wasnt without its challenges, however. In 1977, Russell was diagnosed with cancer, and sadly died just six weeks later. Bernice was affected so deeply, yet relied on her family and many friends for support. She found work at Muskegon Community College, as a switchboard operator and secretary. She remained in that capacity until 1983, when she became a fulltime secretary for the schools Fine Arts Department. Later she worked as Senior Liaison on a part-time basis, and then worked as Title V Coordinator with the Council on Aging for seven years. Bernice led a very vibrant personal life, as well. She traveled extensively with her friends Jean and Murial, visiting Europe and many other places, and she of course stayed active at church, too. She also generously donated her time to volunteering at Hackley Hospital, and to the Greater Muskegon Womens Club and the Town Club, too. She wasnt meant to live her life alone, however. One day a nice man from her church named Fenton Dorais came to her home to help with some repairs. Fenton was also a widower, and they had known each other for years. He got Bernices home fixed up, and then fixed the two of them up on a date! They went dancing, and the sparks flew between them. Bernice was always a beautiful woman, who took great pride in her appearance, and Fenton was a handsome fellow, as well. They were perfect for each other in so many ways, and both loved to go dancing to Big Band music, and had fun together. They were married on January 7, 1995, beginning many happy years together. Bernice became close to Fentons family, as he did to hers, and they spent their winters in lovely Northport, Florida. They returned every summer, so Bernice could spend time with the grandchildren she so adored. Bernice and Fenton lived every day as a gift, and enjoyed dancing as often as possible. On a sunny September Saturday in 2007, they went to the Farmers Market in Muskegon, after a night of dancing on Friday. Bernice fell, hitting her head and breaking her arm. Though they thought she would recover, she took a turn for the worse, and sadly died on Saturday, September 22, 2007, at the age of 87. Bernice was such a beautiful, vibrant woman, a woman so devoted to her family, her faith, and the many friendships she formed through the years. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, who danced to the song in her heart every day. Today her song plays on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Bernice is survived by her husband, Fenton E. Dorais; 3 daughters, Sharon (Steve) Clark of Harbor Springs, MI, Sandra (Don) Para of Duarte, CA, Sue Lemon of Middleville, MI; 1 step-daughter, Marsha (David ) Green of Muskegon; 1 step-son, Brian Dorais of Muskegon; 2 brothers, Paul Hagglund of Ottumwa, IO, Virgil Hagglund of Aurora, IL; 9 grandchildren, Elizabeth Clark of Kentwood, CJ (Stephanie) Clark of Shelby, Marina Para of Chicago, IL, Alyssa Para of Los Angeles, CA, Sean Lemon of Grand Rapids, MI, Rob, Dan, and Tim Lemon of Middleville, MI, Eric Green of Whitehall, MI, 1 great grandchild, Logan Clark of Shelby. Bernice was preceded in death by her first husband, Rev. Russell W. Johnson; 2 brothers, Marvin and Orville Hagglund; a sister, Viola Wise; a grandson, Steven Clark. Services are scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, 2007, 11:00 A.M. at Samuel Lutheran Church, Muskegon, MI with Pastor Chris Anderson officiating. Interment at Ottumwa Cemetery in Ottumwa, Iowa at a later date. Visitation is Tuesday, September 25, 2007, 7:00-8:30 P.M. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Rev. Russell Johnson Scholarship Fund at Chicago Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. Memorials may be sent to Samuel Lutheran Church, 540 Houston Ave., Muskegon, MI. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.