Shirley Berndt

Shirley Maxine Berndt, 85, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away Friday morning, October 12th, 2012 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital peacefully in her sleep with her family.
Shirley was born January 27th, 1927 in Clay Center, Kansas to Stanley and Hazel Duncan Leake. Shirley graduated from Beloit High School in Beloit, Kansas and was married to Alan Berndt of Glasco, Kansas on January 10th, 1948. After their marriage, Shirley and Alan moved to a farm west of Simpson, Kansas where they farmed in the Simpson and Glasco areas and for many years milked Guernsey cows on the dairy farm they ran together and raised their four children; John, Alan, Elizabeth and Rebecca. Shirley was an avid gardener and was especially fond of her flower garden and her many flowers. She was a member of the Beloit United Methodist Church and was active with the quilting circle in the church.
For many years Shirley and Alan and her trusty dogs Rocket and Fritz entertained her kids and grandkids on the farm when they came back to visit or to participate in the yearly wheat harvests. There was always plenty to do with grandma and she enjoyed having the grand kids as much as they enjoyed visiting grandma and grandpa. Life was always an adventure with Shirley and Alan with many years and trips across the country to see the sights, chase and collect antiques and visit friends and relatives.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alan and her oldest son, John. Left to mourn Shirley's passing and celebrate the rich life she enjoyed include John's wife Patty Berndt of Belton, Missouri, a son Alan Berndt and his wife Kathy of Lincoln, Nebraska; Elizabeth Murrah of Austin, Texas and Rebecca Clothier of Lawrence, Kansas. She is also survived by two sisters; Betty Price of Kansas City, Kansas and Beverly Opheim of Denver, Colorado.
Other survivors include ten grandchildren; Hilary Berndt of Belton, Missouri, Spencer Berndt of Overland Park, Kansas, William Berndt of Ogden, Kansas, Elissa Hamill of Omaha, Nebraska, Margaret Berndt of Chicago, Illinois, Sam Berndt of Madison, Wisconsin, Lauren Murrah of Austin, Texas, Lacey Murrah of Atlanta, Georgia, Evan Clothier of Lawrence, and Alan Clothier of Lawrence, Kansas. Shirley is also survived by 7 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Tuesday, October 16 at the McDonald Funeral Home followed by burial in Glasco Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12-8 PM with family present from 7-8 PM Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church Quilting Circle.