Bernice LaVerne Herra (Haht), the daughter of Ernest and Elizabeth Thomas Haht, was born December 25, 1926, on the family farm in Paullina, Iowa.    She received her education in a country school in O'Brien County.  Bernice was confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina.  She enjoyed the farm life very much and she met her future husband, William Zeeb, when he came through with a thrashing machine crew.  They married December 27, 1945.

They moved to Hermosa, SD after receiving a ranch job offer.  After their first child was born they returned to Iowa to live where a second child was born.  The family moved to Custer in 1955.  Two more children were born there.

Later on, Bernice married her second husband, Edward Herra.  Bernice worked kitchens at Triple T, Dakota Cowboy and Crazy Horse.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Elizabeth Haht; grandparents, Henri and Anna Haht; brothers, Delbert, Melvin, Henry, William; sister, Mildred and her daughter, Cindy.

Bernice is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Rex) Nichols of Hot Springs, SD; Twila Abraham and Kay Mattox of Custer, SD; numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Bernice passed away November 14, 2023, at Seven Sisters living Center in Hot Springs, SD.

Committal services will be held 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Custer Cemetery in Custer, SD.  A celebration of Berniece's life will follow.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Custer, SD.