Bernice was born Nov. 29, 1914, in a farm house near Springfield, to Frank and Thula (Smith) Swallom. She was raised in the Springfield area, where she obtained her teaching certificate and later taught school. She married George Dobesh in 1935. They farmed near Tyndall until moving to Rapid City in 1940. She was a stay at home mother and ranch wife, until her children, Janet, Frank, and Barbara were through school. Bernice loved to garden and worked at Pederson Greenhouse and Florist, until they moved to Spearfish in 1960. They had a truck garden and she worked at Beck’s Nursery.
She was very active in the Senior Citizens and had a great part in the building of the facilities. She was also very active in the local and state Farm Bureau and the South Dakota Dairy Herd Improvement Association from 1963-1972. She volunteered for many things, including RSVP, Chamber of Commerce, 4-H, Hickory House kitchen, Black Hills Passion Play, and Meals on Wheels. Bernice was very active in the United Methodist Women and a member of Spearfish United Methodist Church.
She sold her crafts at various craft sales. Bernice crocheted and sold or gave away over 1,000 large doilies. She became known as the doilie lady.
She is survived by her son, Frank, of Belle Fourche; daughter, Barbara Robinson, of Spearfish; grandchildren, Deb Freitas, Donna Love, Misti Wahl, Boe, Clint, and Dane Dobesh, Kimberly Heitz, Dee Robinson, and Shaun Robinson; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Freitas, Christine Hackney, Anthony Hanson, Trent and Garrett Wahl, Brandy Daniels, Ashley Dobesh, Dusty Grimes, Breona Hinricher, Kasey, Avery, Kortney, and Emery Dobesh, John, Kyle, and Shaina Stover, Levi Robinson, Dakota and Tanner Steineke, Rebekah, Zechariah, and Ruth Robinson; great-great-grandchildren, Dylan Freitas, Gabrial Hanson, Troy, Chaisley, and Sadie Daniels, Braxton Dobesh, Jedediah Hinricher, Bryce Robinson, and Tailey Leflore.
Bernice was preceded in death by her husband George in 1992; daughter, Janet Septka; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Dobesh; son-in-law, Kent Robinson; great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Freitas; great-grandsons, Kyle Stover, Zechariah Robinson; granddaughter-in-law, Lisa Dobesh; sister, Marjorie; and brother, Maurice.