Bernice Irene Lindahl

Bernice I. Lindahl, age 97, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Grand Meadow Care Center. Bernice Irene Weber was born on October 23, 1928, in Austin, Minnesota, to Reinhold and Rosie (Chapek) Weber. She graduated from Austin High School in 1948. Following graduation she began working at Hormel. She worked for Hormel for 43 years before retiring at the top of the entire Hormel Corporation seniority list. On September 14, 1952, Bernice was united in marriage to Doyle Dean Lindahl at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin; they were blessed with three children. The couple later divorced.

During Doyle’s time as sheriff, Bernice was a deputy and one of her duties included cooking in the Austin jail. Over the years Bernice received thank you letters from the mothers of inmates thanking her for her care and cooking skills for their children. A few offenders even enjoyed her meals so much they made it a point to be incarcerated over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Bernice was a wonderful gardener; she had a beautiful garden. She enjoyed baking, making homemade wine, canning, and playing cards. Her favorite card game was “Aunt Bernie’s Rummy.” Bernice also loved fishing, camping, and spending time at the lake. She made beautiful oil paintings, Christmas trees out of jewelry which she gave to her friends and family, and grandfather clocks for her children. Bernice made extravagant wedding cakes with her own secret recipe. During the holidays Bernice would take time off work to bake cookies and make lefse for her family and friends. She won the Christmas light contest for the City of Austin for three years in a row. There was never a dull moment when Bernice was around. Above all, the time she spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren meant more than anything. She will be greatly missed.

Bernice is survived by her children, Deborah (Richard) Thorson of Alden, Behren 'Bucky' Lindahl and Pamela (Tom Walsh) Lindahl, both of Austin; grandchildren, Troy (Christine) Thorson, Tiffany (Mitchell) Swanson, Shane Thorson, Derek (Nicole) Thorson; great-grandchildren, Tyler Thorson, Julia, Luke, Norah, and Hazel Swanson, and Titus, Mila, and Vera Thorson; sister, Marcella Rockwell; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reinhold and Rosie; sisters, Margaret Kuntz and Marjorie Halverson; and brother, Raymond Weber; infant sister, Evelyn Weber; and former husband, Doyle Lindahl.

The funeral service for Bernice will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home in Austin. The visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. The interment will be held at a later date in Hayward Cemetery, Hayward, Minnesota. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.