In her Kennewick home of 53 years, surrounded by loving family, Bernice Lorraine Martin, 90, peacefully departed this world for holier realms, September 6, 2015, resting in her greatest source of comfort, Jesus Christ. Life had begun for the third child of Lena and Conrad Westerberg in Sioux City, Iowa, April 16 1925. Bernice grew up in the Mukilteo/Everett area of Washington, enjoying the companionship of family and friends until enrolling and graduating high school, as Valedictorian, at the Prairie Bible Institute, Alberta, Canada, during World War II. Embracing new found freedom, Bernice traveled to California, Kansas and Texas with her sister and brother-in-law before returning to the Puget Sound area and committing to the war effort through federal employment at Paine Field, McChord and Elmendorf Air Bases. It was while employed, enjoying bowling, playing softball, skiing and riding the Alaska railway at the latter base in Alaska, that Bernice met "my best friend," as she described, Royce H. Martin. They were married in l949, in Everett, WA, where she became a "Boxing Day Bride," as they honeymooned in Canada. After purchasing a homestead lot, then a home in Anchorage, the couple had their first child, but lost their second at birth, necessitating a move to the lower 48. Their third child was born in Everett. A year's stay in Seattle followed, until making the McNary Dam, Oregon, housing subdivision their home. In l962, Bernice and Royce moved to Kennewick, Washington, where they raised their children, Bernice also giving birth to their fourth child. Travel included an unforgettable family trip, as Royce piloted the five of them through the air over Mt. Rushmore, down to Texas, across to Carlsbad Caverns and on to Disneyland before heading north back home. Bernice's children are forever grateful that she and dad took them camping: beloved Lake Chelan, an archery meet-up in Bend, Oregon, and the "international camping" on Vancouver Island in the VW Microbus Royce had converted into a camper. [Not all moms will take on camping, much less camping with kids. Thank you, Mom, for being there.] In 1975 Bernice reentered the workforce, retiring from her clerk/steno position with the Benton-Franklin County Health Dept. in 1990. A time and group of people she much enjoyed and would fondly recall in later years. One of Bernice's greatest joys was the traveling she did after retirement, beginning with a trip to Sweden and Norway with her youngest daughter—a retirement gift from her husband. Many more trips were to come: Mexico, Aruba, Washington D. C., New Orleans, St. Louis, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas. But best of all were her, eventually, yearly spring/summer stays on the east coast with her youngest daughter and her husband, after Royce passed away the fall of 2004. She loved her grandchildren deeply and loved and marveled at the new crop of great grandchildren. "This ol' world isn't such a bad place after all. There is always someone offering to hold the door open for me," Bernice observed. "In her entire life I did not once hear her swear," observed her son. Her's was a humble life, noting and remembering those whom others might consider strangers as her friends. Her nieces and nephews recall her as, "So sweet...never uttering an unkind word. Ever." And more than a few have been taken aback by her wit. Perhaps nothing gave Bernice a greater lift then when one of her unexpected quips landed perfectly. Resulting in laughs all around. Bernice is survived by: children, Terry (Melchin) (James) Allen, Lon Martin and Tina (Rob) Yost, grandchildren, Talena (Brad) Bricker, Charles Melchin, Abigail Stipcak, and Jessica (Paolo) Alix, great grandchildren, Crizer, Colton, Vianne, Easton, Cerise and Syrus and sister, Ann-Marie Lorentz and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: husband, Royce H. Martin, son, David Conley Martin and brother, Dr. Milton Westerberg. As Bernice requested there be no services, family and friends are invited to an informal graveside gathering in the Veteran's section at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, at Union and 10th, Kennewick, WA, Sat., Oct. 17, at 2 p.m., regrouping afterwards at Bernice's nearby home for an equally informal "greet and eat". Per Bernice's request, in lieu of flowers the family suggests donating to your favorite charity...or...perhaps simply hold a door open for someone today.