Longtime resident of Blewett Pass, Bernice Smith, 87, died Sunday March 6, 2011, at Cashmere Convalescent Center. Bernice was born January 8, 1924, to Eva (Plugrath) and John Werner in a little house on Deadman's Hill in Dryden. As the youngest of 15 siblings, Bernice and her twin sister, Bea, grew up in a house below the Peshastin Bridge on the Wenatchee River. "All of our family liked to sing. After dinner, our brother would get out his guitar and we'd sing all kinds of songs. That was our main entertainment." The twins would accompany their father as he cleaned the Peshastin School and then go to a little store across the street. The people who ran the store would ask the girls to sing in harmony. "Then they would ask if we would like a piece of candy or a penny. We usually chose the penny for the offering at church on Sunday." Bernice loved music. She played in a dance band in junior high and high school and formed a singing trio with her sister, Bea, and Helen Hauff (Link). Bea said, "It's a good thing we had a three-seat outhouse, or we'd never have learned to sing three-part harmony." While attending high school, Bernice worked for Peshastin Fruit Growers Association after school as a Bookkeeper. Following graduation, Bernice went to school as a nursing cadet and graduated from St. Anthony's Hospital School of Nursing in 1947, and later worked as an RN at Leavenworth Hospital. On July 12, 1948, she married her high school sweetheart, John Smith. They made their home on Blewett Pass and raised three boys while operating the Skookum Dairy and later managing fruit orchards. Bernice always valued education, not only for her own family, but also for the families who worked in the Smith orchard business. She wanted to see kids enjoy opportunities through good education.

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, John; and her seven brothers and seven sisters. She is survived by her children and their wives, John Jr. and Debin, Warren and Elissa, and Ted and Marcia, all of Peshastin; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

In lieu of a Memorial Service, there will be a Family Gathering, at a later date to celebrate Bernice's life. Ward's Funeral Chapel, Leavenworth, is in charge of the arrangements.