Bernice Schaffer

Bernice Schaffer, 97, Jamestown, ND died Wednesday May 1, 2024 at the Jamestown Reginal Medical Center.

Bernice (Oberlander) Schaffer was born February 9, 1927 to Emil and Emma (Dockter) Oberlander on a farm south of Medina, ND.  She was raised in Medina and Streeter and attended school in Streeter, ND.

On March 5, 1944, she married Arthur Schaffer in Streeter, ND.  They farmed 7 miles south of Streeter until they divorced in 1962.  Art passed away in January 1982.  Bernice worked as a cook at Cleveland School from 1967 to 1978.  She worked as a sales clerk at the Fair Store in Jamestown for 11 years after that.  She retired in 1996 and has resided in Cleveland and Jamestown, ND since then.  

Bernice was a member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliary since 1967.

She is survived by 5 sons: Arthur, Jr. (Alice) Schaffer, Byers, CO; James (Dianne), Roger, and Jerome all of Cleveland, ND; Lyle (Cheri), New Rockford, ND; and 2 daughters: Marietta Ganser and Sandra (Charles) Janke both of Cleveland, ND; 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 1 great great-granddaughter, 13 step great great-grandchildren, 3 nieces: Valerie (Vaughn) Johnson, Perth, ND, Renae (Wayne) Ash, Sidney, MT, and Margaret Oberlander, Bismarck, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Marvin, Donald, and Gary, son-in-law Ronald "Porky" Ganser, sister-in-law Beverly Kinzler, nephew Rick Oberlander, and step granddaughter, Renae Edwards.