Bernice Joan (Kalkhoff) Senkyr, age, 91 of Franklin passed away on Saturday, March 22, 2025 surrounded by her family at the South View Living Center in Gibbon. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the St. Andrew’s Catholic church in Fairfax with burial to follow at the Saint Patrick – Birch Cooley Cemetery in rural Franklin. A visitation will be held from 9 until 11 a.m. on Saturday March 29, 2025 all at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Fairfax. Arrangements are with Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Services of Redwood Falls.
Bernice Joan Kalkhoff was born on July 13, 1933 at home on the farm near Clements, the daughter of Henry and Kathryn (Fangmann) Kalkhoff. She attended a one-room country school through eighth grade and graduated from Wabasso High School in 1951. She then began working at Broichs in Sleepy Eye. On September 12, 1955 she was united in marriage to Roger Senkyr at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Clements. To this union they were blessed with six children: Brenda, Lonnie, Robert, Denise, James and Randall. They farmed together near Franklin for 43 years before retirement. Bernice enjoyed baking, especially homemade buns and cinnamon rolls; coffee hour with friends; word search puzzles; watching MN sports and volunteering at the Thrift Store in Redwood Falls. She was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was devoted to saying the rosary. She especially enjoyed being with her grandchildren and family. She was a loving mom, grandma and friend. Unfortunately, Bernice had to move from the Franklin community to Country View Estates in Fairfax in 2019 and had been living at South View Living Center in Gibbon since January 2024. Special thanks to all of the staff with her transition and for providing her with care and compassion. The family would like to thank those who offered support, kindness and love during her life.Bernice is survived by her children, Brenda (Tim) Halvorson of Dawson, Lonnie (Kristi) of Franklin, Robert (Cecilia) of Franklin, Jim (Kay) of Clearwater and Randy (Amy) of St Clair; son-in-law Steve Helgemo of Madison; eight grandchildren: Joey (Bronwyn) Senkyr, Mark Senkyr, Amber (Nathan) Paulson, Robert Senkyr, Elizabeth (Brian) Hansen, Scott (Brynn) Senkyr, Maria Senkyr and Connor Senkyr; 4 great-grandchildren Lane and Jamie Senkyr, Eli and Caeli Hansen. Also surviving are her twin sister, Beatrice Serbus of Buffalo Lake, sister Rita Goblirsch of Wabasso and sister-in-law Marlene Fransen of Owatonna. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Roger in 1998, daughter Denise in 2016, granddaughter Ana Marie in 2009 and Bernard and Bernice Kalkhoff, Ernest and Dorothy Kalkhoff, Jerome and Joan Kalkhoff, Francis Goblirsch, George Serbus, Donald and Mellie Senkyr, Jack Forcier, and Don Fransen; along with nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
