Bernice Root

Bernice I. Root, 93, of Rochester died Sunday, June 12, 2009 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Bernice was born to Arnold and Martha (Brand) Koeller on October 29, 1915, in Witoka, where she was raised. She graduated from Winona Senior High School and attended Winona Teachers College. Bernice married Leslie J. Root on March 10, 1937 in Decorah, Iowa. They made their home in Winona, where she was a homemaker and they operated roller skating rinks. They retired to Stockton Valley before moving to Rochester. For many years they wintered in Texas and Arizona. Bernice currently lived at Madonna Towers in Rochester. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband in 2004, her parents, a sister and brother. Survivors include a daughter Jerri (David) Allen of St. Charles, three grandchildren; Randall (Kathy) Allen of Lenoir City, TN, Traci Heim and Vicki Allen of Rochester, and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be 2PM Friday at Hoff Funeral Home in St. Charles with the Reverend Steve McGinley officiating. Burial will follow in Saratoga Cemetery, rural St. Charles. Friends may call from 1 to 2PM on Friday at the funeral home. Please share a memory of Bernice on-line at www.hofffuneral.com.