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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Krom, Berniece Amanda

Age 96

KROM, Berniece Amanda Went home to be with her Savior on Wednesday, November 21, 2012.

She was born on March 3, 1916 in Dusty, Washington to Charles and Mary Lambert.

She was one of eight children raised in a boarding home on a few farm acres.

It was in that Boarding Home that Berniece, as a young girl, learned the rituals of being a homemaker and a seamstress.

She would work along side her mother cooking, baking, canning, and sewing for the constant flow of travelers who sought lodging at her parents’ boarding home.

Berniece enjoyed sewing with her Mom.

She also loved playing the piano in the parlor for the boarders every evening after dinner, and in her adult life she shared her talent playing at weddings, dances, and as a member, she was the pianist for many years for the Country Bible Church in Dusty.

She attended grade school in Dusty, and stayed with relatives in LaCrosse to attend High School due to the fact transportation was hard to come by.

She was active in school plays, participated in tennis and was a cheerleader for three years.

Berniece graduated in 1933 as salutatorian of her class.

On January 1, 1939, she married the love of her life, Benjamin Krom, the neighbor boy.

They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1989, and had been married 66 years at the time of Ben’s passing in February 2005.

They had spent 54 years on Ben’s family farm, five miles south of Dusty, where they raised three daughters together.

Even being a farmer’s wife and raising three daughters, Berniece found the time to become a certified Bernina Sewing Machine instructor.

She taught classes through Spokane Community College and the University of Idaho Continuing Education.

She became a well-known 4-H leader and was an active participant in the Palouse Empire Fair, serving as Fair Director and Superintendent of the Home Ec.

Department.

Under her leadership, the rules and the premium book for the Division were revised and rewritten.

Berniece, along with her husband, Ben, became the first inductees into the Palouse Empire Fair Hall of Fame.

A large portrait of them hangs in the Community Building at the Fair.

Berniece was also a bit of a local historian, writing books and other publications on the Dusty BB Club, Dusty Cemetery, Dusty Farm Co-op, Country Bible Church and the Palouse Empire Fair, covering the time period from 1887-1999.

She also wrote books on the history of the Lambert and Krom Families.

Berniece and Ben retired in 1997 and moved into Hill Ray Plaza in Colfax.

In September 2008, she moved into Whitman Health and Rehabilitation Center where she lived until the time of her death.

Berniece is survived by three daughters; Sharry O’Hearne, Colfax, Vicki (Dale) Broeckel, Dusty, and Gwen (Randy) Klein, Spokane and three grandchildren; Kimberley Gustafson, Dusty, Michelle (Mike) Carver and Benjamin (Vanessa) Klein, all of Spokane.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben, her parents, four brothers and three sisters.

Visitation will be Monday from 11 - 5 at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax.

Private burial services will be at the Dusty Cemetery.

A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. in the First Baptist Church, 200 N. Mill Street, Colfax, WA.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Country Bible Church, c/o 1512 Green Spot Road, LaCrosse, WA 99143 or P.E.F.

Foundation for the Jones Schoolhouse Restoration, Berniece Krom Memorial, c/o Janet Luft, 501 Luft Road, Endicott, WA 99125.

On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com BRUNING FUNERAL HOME of Colfax is caring for the family.