Bernice Wallace

Bernice Neuman Wasem Skinner Wallace, 93, died May 31, 2012, at Fergus Falls Pioneer Cottages where she resided for the last two years. She was born to Rudy and Gertrude (Olson) Neuman June 18, 1918, on the family farm five miles south of Fergus Falls, the second of four children. After graduating from Fergus Falls High School in 1936, she worked in Minneapolis selling hats. She loved wearing hats; you rarely saw her without one. She lived in Hollywood, Calif., where she married Sam Wasem. After the end of their marriage, she moved to Miami, Fla., working as a model for a number of years and was pictured in “Life” magazine. She traveled with friends and ended up owning and operating a banana plantation and night club in Ecuador for nine years and marrying Fred Skinner. Her last husband, John Wallace, was an English dentist, and they traveled for his work in Grenada, South Africa and Spain. They also lived in England for a number of years where John died. She returned to Florida after John’s death, and then moved to Fergus Falls in 1998, to be close to her brother, family and good friend, Jerry Galena. Preceding her in death were her husband, John Wallace; parents; and two sisters, Dorothy Jane McMahon of Washington, and Eunice Berquist of Oregon. Bernice is survived by her brother, Harold Neuman, Fergus Falls; and several nieces and nephews, Ronald (Connie) Neuman of Rochester, Gary (Bonnie) Neuman of Eustis, Fla., Paul (Cathy) Neuman of Fergus Falls, Chris (Teresa) Berquist, of Talatin, Ore.; Laurie (Harlan) Hayes of Roseburg, Ore., Heather (Dr. John) Carter, of Springfield, Ore., and Tammy (Mike) Morris, of South Bend, Wash. A graveside service is planned at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 21, 2012, at Knollwood Cemetery on Pebble Lake Road in Fergus Falls .