Rachel "Bernice" Palmer, 89

Rachel “Bernice” Palmer, 89, passed away Feb. 8, 2021. She was born on the vast open prairie in a one-room cabin between Brusett and Jordan 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 were born in the cabin. Baby sister Elvira arrived when they hit the mountains near Stevensville.

Bernice attended school in Stevensville, Victor, Arlee and St. Ignatius. Bernice loved to attend sporting events, dances and movie shows. She played baseball in high school as that was 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. That was where, on Jan. 18, 1948, she would meet Del Palmer. A month later, she received 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 said.

After attending the dance, Del knew she was the one. He 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 scrawled across the front, documenting the event. She also kept 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 winning streak led by Bob Halgren.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren also were fortunate enough to know her love and support had no bounds. You would find her sitting in the stands for musical performances, the showing of the livestock and all of 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; parents, Dee and Rachel Shriner; brother, Robert; sister, Ruth; and sons, Dennis and David.

She is survived by brother, Ben; sister, Elvira; son, Skip (Sue) of Charlo; daughter, Charlene of Ronan; daughters-in-law, Kim Palmer (Tom) of Ronan and Kay (Dan) Boldra of Frenchtown; grandchildren, Jennifer Palmer Nicholson (Jereme) Greydon, Rachel and Logan of Deer Lodge, Brian Palmer (Suzanne) Billy, Tori, Angel Lee, Donna, Zuriah of Ronan, Caysie Palmer (Eric) of Ronan, Benjamin Montgomery (Brandie) Dylan, Ian, Tommy of Ronan, Stacy Palmer Palm (Cory) Bayleigh, Olivia, Jayden, Caitlyn of Bismarck, N.D., and Justin Palmer and his daughter Sloane of Charlo.

A celebration of the life of the party will be held 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.