Bernice "Toots" L. Bailey

Bernice “Toots” L. Bailey, age 96, of rural Madelia, died Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at her home with her family by her side.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., May 7, 2022, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Vernon Center. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., May 6, at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato and will continue one hour before service at the church. Interment will be in Vernon Center Cemetery.

Toots was born September 3, 1925, to Jacob J. and Martha L. (Ganzel) Denn in Decoria Township, rural St. Clair, Minnesota. Toots moved with her family to rural Garden City as a child. She attended the Nobles Country School thru 6th grade, then the Oliver Country School thru 8th grade. She then returned two years later to school in Madelia and then Garden City where she graduated in 1946. Toots was united in marriage to Richard E. Bailey on May 1, 1948, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Vernon Center. They were blessed with 3 daughters. Toots was a farm wife, mother, and right-hand man for Richard. Toots worked right along with Richard as they farmed and did custom farming thru the years. She held “Coffee Party” on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at her home for many years. She was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and a 50-year member of “Mother’s Club”. She was an avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles and word searches, watching and feeding the birds and being outdoors.

Toots is survived by her 3 daughters, Vickie (Dale) Wiederhoeft of Winnebago, Karen (Dale) Lachmiller of Garden City, and Laurie (Buck) Halverson of Blue Earth; six grandchildren, Adam (Katie) Wiederhoeft of Rosemount, Mandi (Paul) Russow of Nicollet, Marissa (Patrick) Pfeffer of Mapleton, Heidi (Dan) Nelson of North Mankato, Andrea (Brett Wedlund) Halverson of Cottage Grove, and Stacy Johnston of Rochester; twelve great-grandchildren, Oliver and Emery Wiederhoeft, Anna and Maddie Russow, Ava Pfeffer, Morgan (Adam Martin) Nelson, Chris and Kaden Nelson, Henry Forsberg, Easton, Tristan and Finley Johnston; great-great-granddaughter, Keira Martin; brother, Richard (Barb) Denn of Madelia; brother-in-law, Delphin Kietzer of Vernon Center; many nieces and nephews.

Toots was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard on February 1, 2015; siblings, Warren (Sylvia) Denn, Robert (Esther) (Judy) Denn, Marion (Darrel) VanSickle, Doris Kietzer; sister-in-law, Gerry (J.T.) Rutherford; brother-in-law, Durwood Bailey. Toots will be forever missed and remembered fondly by family and friends.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes. Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.