Sister M. Bernardine Takes New Post

Hankinson Post, Hankinson, North Dakota, 1974

Sister M. Bernardine, OSF, administrator of St. Gerard Hospital in Hankinson for the past 12 years, will leave her post to take a similar position at the hospital in Oakes March 1.

She will be replaced by Sister Mary Jane Reiber, OSF, now administrator of St. Anne's Guest Home at Grand Forks. Sister Mary Jane was head of St. Gerard from 1959-1962. She has been at Grand Forks for the past six years. Sister Mary Jane will take over here April 1. Gene Hoefs, assistant administrator, will be in charge during March.

Sister Bernardine is a graduate of St. Francis Academy, St. Bernard's School of Nursing, Chicago; received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing Education from Loyola University, Chicago; and did post graduate work in Obstetrical Nursing in Chicago.

During her career she has held the following positions:

Obstetrical Supervisor, St. John's Hospital, Fargo--1942-1945; Acting Director of Nurses, St. John's School of Nursing, Fargo--1945-1946; Administrator, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Drayton--1948-1953; Administrator, Towner County Memorial Hospital, Cando-1953-1962; Administrator, St. Gerard Community Hospital, Hankinson--1962-1974; 1946-1947 taught Home Nursing for the Richland County Red Cross.

Sister Bernardine is past President of the N.D. Catholic Conference and the N.D. Hospital Association, past board member of the Upper Midwest Hospital Conference as well as a board member for 15 years of the N.D. Blue Cross and a member of the Fargo Soroptimist Club, an international organization for executive business and professional women.

The last few years she has become very interested in alcohol problems and has represented Richland County on the Fargo-Moorhead Area Commission on Alcohol Problems.

Sister Bernardine Bickler 60th jubilee

Among the four Franciscan Jubilarians, Sister M. Bernardine Bickler, OSF, celebrated her 60th jubilee as a Sister of St. Francis June 19 at the Provincial Motherhouse in Hankinson.

Reverend Joseph Huebsch, chaplain, was the main celebrant and Reverend John Anderson, pastor of St. Philip's Church was homilist for the occasion. Visiting clergy joined in celebrating the eucharistic liturgy.

Sister Bernardine, daughter of the late Lewis and Katherine Bickler, Orrin, entered the Sisters of St. Francis at Hankinson in 1934. She received her B.S. in nursing education from St. Bernard's School of Nursing in Chicago and served as administrator and in nursing ministry in North Dakota hospitals in Drayton, Cando, Hankinson and Oakes.

Following a year of spiritual renewal in the Credo program at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, Sister did retreat work and offered Bible study for two years in Hankinson. After two years at the congregation's generalate in La Storta, Rome, Sister Bernardine returned to Hankinson and served as assistant activity director at St. Gerard's, Hankinson, and in 1987 she returned to work at the motherhouse infirmary, taking care of the sick and elderly sisters.

During her years of nursing, Sister Bernardine served on the Provincial Council from 1962-1968; as past president of both the North Dakota Catholic Hospital Association and the North Dakota Hospital Association, she served as board member of the North Dakota Blue Cross for many years.

Reprinted with permission of the Hankinson News, Hankinson, North Dakota.