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Bernice Ashworth Jones
April 16, 1934 - Apr 19, 2019
Bernice was born April 16, 1934, in Great Falls, MT to Iva and Norman Ashworth. After the death of her father in 1937 the family moved to Sunburst, MT. Her mother married Robert Cook in 1938. Bernice graduated from Sunburst High School in 1952, and from Rocky Mountain College in 1956. She then worked as a Medical Technologist in Great Falls, Havre, Butte, Anacortes, WA, and finally in Fort Benton after marrying fellow Rocky Alum John O. Jones on June 30, 1962 in Sunburst.
John and Bernice made their home in Fort Benton for 43 years during which they raised their 3 children. They bought the Tastee Freez in 1979 and ran it for 14 years. Eventually, Bernice worked at and managed the Personal Care unit at the Missouri River Medical Center until her retirement in 2008. Later Bernice moved to Great Falls where she lived until her death.
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Howard Cook (1965)
Bernice was the only girl of five children that grew up in our household but she always knew how to handle her brothers. In fact, she was always the rock of the family as we all got older. She was who I called when I learned our oldest brother (Ed) had past away. She was the one who called me with news that Austin had passed. I was the one who notified her Lee was gone. While a girl going to school she also helped our Mom and Dad with operating the family owned telephone company.
Bernice was in the seventh grade when I decided to join the family. When in high school she excelled as a student and a trumpetest and was one of the high school members who was invited to play in the Portland Rose Festival. She was an alumina of Rocky Mountain College and lived most of her adult life in Fort Benton. Now that I am the only family member remaining, I look with fondest on all my family but there will always be special memories spent with my big sister. Rest in peace Bernie.