Berneta Margaret Hickey

BERNETA MARGARET HAUGER HICKEY April 1, 1930 - June 11, 2010 Memorial services for Berneta Hickey, 80, of Columbia City, OR, will be held on July 16th at Columbia Funeral Home. The time will be 11 AM Berneta died peacefully at home on June 11th, 2010. She died from cardiac failure due to having rheumatic fever when she was younger. Berneta was born on the family farm near Kimball, South Dakota. She was the second daughter of William Henry and Margaret Hauger. She was born on April 1st in the year 1930. Berneta finished high school in Kimball, South Dakota. She then went on to Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Yankton, South Dakota and graduated in 1953. She received a degree as a registered nurse. After graduation she worked in Chamberlain and lived there for five years. She met Raymond Willard Hickey on a Saturday night at a local dance. They were married on May 7th, 1955 in Kimball, South Dakota. They lived in Chamberlain for five years and had the first three of their children there. In 1960, they moved to Rapid City, South Dakota and the family increased by two more. The next move was to Sturgis, South Dakota and the last son was born there. They left the farm in search of a better life and less snow. The places they have lived since then have been Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. Grateful for having shared her life with us are her husband, Raymond Hickey of Columbia City, OR: two sons, Gregory Hickey and wife, Kate of Days Creek, OR, and Leslie "Pete" Hickey of Days Creek, OR; four daughters, Karla Rae Carnes and husband Carl of Eugene, OR:; Kathleen Margaret Kirby and husband Earl of Woodland,, WA: Janelle Marie Bodenner and husband Ross of Woodland, WA; Leanna Louise Lawyer and husband Steve of Columbia City, OR; fourteen grandchildren named Amy, Aaron, Chelsea, Ian, Jessica, Trenton, Trevor, Jasen, Jeremy, Kara, Teah, Rhiannon, Marlene, Raymond; eight great grandchildren: Taylor, Riley, Tristen, Riley, Dakota, Allie, Landon, and Cameron. She is survived by her three sisters: Wilma Betten of South Dakota, Adeline Urban of South Dakota and Shirley Lassegard of San Jose, CA. For over 40 years Berneta worked as a registered nurse in many capacities. She was a wonderful nurse and gave all to her patients and staff over the years. She was one of the best. She will always be remembered in Canyonville, OR as the head nurse at the old Forest Glen Hospital. She helped deliver many babies, ward off heart attacks, soothe cranky children and comfort the elderly. Later in life she worked at a prison and was well respected by all. In retirement she loved to travel and was always ready to get in a car, travel trailer or plane on a moments notice. She has seen many of our country's greatest sights and loved to explore with her kids. Berneta loved pretty things and her nice home in Columbia City, Or. She loved to go shopping and out to eat her coconut shrimp whenever the time was right. A good piece of chocolate was never far away either. Books kept her company over the years and she enjoyed her novels immensely. Berneta was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to all she knew. She will always be missed, but we know she is looking down at us from heaven. Her Catholic faith sustained her to the end and we were thankful to have her all the years we did. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Serenity Hospice of Portland, who were invaluable to her family and made her last days at home peaceful. Columbia Funeral Home, 681 Columbia Boulevard, St Helens, Or, are in charge of arrangements.