Berdine See Obituary

Berdine H. See, 87, of Independence, IA, died on September 2, 2023, at Lexington Estates in Independence, IA. Berdine was the daughter of Ubbe and Jennie (Janssen) Toomsen of Geneva, Iowa. She was born in 1935, the 11th of 13 children on the Toomsen family farm, currently listed as an Iowa Century Farm. Berdine was educated in Geneva's Sunnyside Country School through the eighth grade and graduated from Ackley High School in 1955. On June 1, 1955, Berdine met Raymond See at the apartment building they lived at in Des Moines. He struck up a conversation and asked if she wanted to take a tour of the area together since they were both new to town. They were married four short months later on October 7, 1955, in Ackley, IA. They made their home near Ackley and began farming. Following this, they lived throughout central/eastern Iowa in various farming roles. They raised cattle, operated a hog confinement, and harvested the land. In 1971, they purchased a mobile home park just east of Independence. They operated the park together for 31 years until closing it in 2003. While being a farmer's wife and business owner, Berdine raised three children and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Independence. She taught Sunday school and was part of United Women in Faith, formerly known as United Methodist Women (UMW). Her strong faith carried her through breast cancer treatment that blessed her as a 22-year breast cancer survivor. In their spare time, Berdine and Ray spent time traveling, boating, camping, and spending time at Holiday Lake near Brooklyn, IA. She also enjoyed gardening, baking, sewing, canning, collecting bells, thimbles, Avon, and like items, writing letters, and mailing cards to loved ones for special days. Berdine was known as kind, loving, and selfless, and her true joy was being with and keeping in touch with family and friends. Berdine was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond See; daughter, Janell Greenfield; granddaughter, Amy Knutson; parents; brothers Clarence Toomsen, John Toomsen, Delbert Toomsen, Melvin Toomsen, and Norman Toomsen; sisters Grace Roske, Elizabeth Spieker, Johanna Daniels, Henrietta Miller, Florence Schultz, and Christine Schurman. Berdine will be deeply missed by her children: Rick See, of Independence, IA; Randy See (Angela Buskohl) of Rowley, IA; and Brenda (Curt) Balvanz, of Cedar Falls, IA; grandchildren: Andrea (Aaron) Bruns, Ryan (Christina) See, Nathan (Kristi) See, Madison and Carter Balvanz; and great-grandchildren, Abigail, Madalyn, Alexis, Noah, Jackson, and McKinzie; sister Marian Witte of Cedar Falls, IA; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews from the Toomsen, Janssen, and See families. A Memorial Service will be held at 10 AM, on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Reiff Family Center - Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence, IA with Rev. Bret Trasamar officiating. A visitation will be held an hour before the service on Saturday at 9 AM. A burial will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, north of Ackley, IA, at 12:30/1:00 pm also on Saturday, September 23, 2023, and a luncheon and time of fellowship will immediately follow at the St. John's United Church of Christ in Ackley.