Bernice Gehring

Our magnificent, enduring and valiant Vera Bernice Gustaveson Gehring, 95, passed on to paint the sunrises on Wednesday October 8. She is forever our hero: wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mentor, teacher, co-conspirator, sweetheart, sidekick and best pal.

She was born a Yankee Doodle on July 4, 1919 in Delta, UT to Victor Emmanuel and Eliza Lorena Keller Gustaveson. Bernice graduated from South High School and trained as a beautician at age 17. She worked in the beauty shop at the old Hotel Utah and as a bookkeeper during WWII. Bernice was 19 years old when the tall and unforgettably handsome Bob Gehring made a delivery of supplies to the Walker Bank Beauty Shop. There he glimpsed the brown-haired beauty practicing the latest dance steps. They were sealed on October 28, 1939, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Theirs is a legendary romance exemplified by mutual and unfailing devotion through 71 years of marriage.

Bernice became an educational secretary in the Granite School District and worked for many years at Wasatch Jr. High and finished her career at Skyline High School. A woman of endless gifts and graces, Bernice provided all the haircuts to her East Millcreek friends and neighbors for more than 40 years. In recent years, she has hand-painted watercolor birthday cards for her many friends and neighbors; children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. We have a lovely gallery of "Vera Van Gogh" paintings, her finest works.

Bernice faithfully served her church, holding numerous positions, including years in the Young Women Presidency of the East Millcreek Stake and innumerable decades as everyone's most remembered Sunday School teacher. She and Bob served a couples' mission in the North Salt Lake area.

Bernice and Bob enjoyed many years of travel and dinner parties with cherished lifelong friends. Bernice shared all of her gifts with her grandchildren and was unfailing in her dedication to Bob and their family. She loved hiking, dancing, holidays and parties. Passionate about education, Bernice loved learning and excelled in math and science. She was thoughtful, compassionate, patient, humor-filled, cheerful and markedly courageous.

She is survived by sons Stephen (Connie), Blaine (Cheri) and daughter Marsha (David) Fetzer; six grandchildren 11 great grandchildren; beloved nieces and her sister-in-law Rhea Worthen. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, her parents; brother Wilmott Gustaveson and sisters Myrtle Quigley and Opal Tondro. The Gehring family expresses their gratitude to the exceptional women who provided tireless and compassionate care: Mele Taumoepeau, Cindy Severin, Anne Christensen, Shellie Brown, Lisa Jones, Yvonne McKenzie, Megan McGregor and Dr. Anna Beck. We appreciate the attentive, respectful care provided for so many years by Dr. Alison Schlissman and Sheryl Brickell of Danville Support Services.

Bernice's legacy of enduring love will be honored at 12 noon on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Holbrook Mortuary (3251 South 2300 East). Friends may visit on Tuesday evening, October 14, from 7 a