Rachel ‘Bernice’ Palmer
courtesy photo
Rachel ‘Bernice’ Palmer
CHARLO — Rachel “Bernice” Palmer, age 89, passed away Feb. 8, 2021. She was born on the vast open prairie in a one-room cabin between Brusett and Jordan, Montana, on May 9, 1931.
Rachel Bernice Shriner arrived with the help of a neighboring midwife to William Dee and Rachel Payne Shriner. Bernice was the second of five children - Robert, Ruth, and Ben, also born in the cabin with baby sister Elvira to arrive when they hit the mountains near Stevensville.
Bernice attended school in Stevensville, Victor, Arlee, and St. Ignatius. She loved to attend sporting events, dances, and movie shows. She played baseball in high school, (before the girls pitched underhand), and was the president of the Cozy Clothing 4-H Club. While attending school in Arlee, her best friend Faye talked her into going to a dance in Charlo where on Jan. 18, 1948, she would meet Del Palmer. A month later she would receive a letter from Mr. Palmer, asking her to join him at the upcoming Green and Gold Ball. “I was surprised to hear from him,” she recalled. After attending the dance, Del knew she was the one, and asked her to marry him on the second date. They had a whirlwind romance and were married the following year on July 25, 1949.
Delbert and Bernice had the Silverthorn Dairy in Charlo along with Delbert’s parents E.M. and Ollie Palmer. Skip was the first to be born in 1952, followed by Denny, David, and Charlene. Del and Bernice were inseparable. Bernice was the support system; she was also the keeper of anything special. In her treasure trove of heirlooms, you could find family photographs with her handwriting documenting the event scrawled across the front along with awards and news clippings spanning a century of her Daddy breaking horses, showing of prize dairy cattle at the fairs, and the legendary Charlo Vikings football team’s winning streak led by Bob Halgren.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were also fortunate enough to know her love and support, which had no bounds. You would find her sitting in the stands to watch a musical performance, showing of the livestock and at all the sporting events, wearing the colors, yelling “that is my great-grandchild!” Bernice loved nothing more than Del, the love of her life; her family, and a gathering ... amongst the willows in the shadows of the missions.
She is preceded in death by husband, Delbert Palmer; her father and mother, Dee and Rachel Shriner; her brother, Robert; her sister, Ruth; and her sons, Dennis and David.
Bernice is survived by brother, Ben; her sister, Elvira; her son, Skip (Sue) of Charlo; her daughter, Charlene of Ronan; her daughters-in-law, Kim Palmer (Tom) of Ronan and Kay (Dan) Boldra of Frenchtown; her grandchildren: Jennifer Palmer Nicholson (Jereme) Greydon, and Rachel, and Logan of Deer Lodge; Brian Palmer (Suzanne), and Billy, Tori, Angel Lee, Donna, and Zuriah of Ronan; Caysie Palmer (Eric) of Ronan; Benjamin Montgomery (Brandie) and Dylan, Ian, and Tommy of Ronan; Stacy Palmer Palm (Cory) Bayleigh, and Olivia, Jayden, and Caitlyn of Bismarck, North Dakota; and Justin Palmer and his daughter Sloane of Charlo.
A “Celebration of the Life of the Party” will be held on July 25, 2021, Del and Bernices’ anniversary, at Palmer Park in Charlo. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at: www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com.
Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
