Longtime Helper and Price resident, Bernice Beatrice (Bee) Warden, passed away peacefully in Price on August 17, 2020 at Good Life Living Center.
Bernice was born October 4, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan to August R. and Mary Sanford Salewske. She was the youngest of six children.
Bernice began singing on the radio in 1938 at age five. She sang and danced at various clubs like The Kiwanis Club, the Elks Lodge, and the Dearborn Canteen. Every Saturday morning she made the trek down to WJBK where she sang on Uncle Nick’s Amateur Hour. Her mother passed away Easter Sunday in April 1947. However, she continued to sing until age 14.
Upon the loss of her mother, Bernice’s father decided to send her to live with her aunts on a rotation for the following school year. After that school year she moved in with her aunt Birdie. She lived with her for about a year and then moved out on the Island in Oneonta, New York with her grandparents. She really didn’t like it there so at the end of summer she moved back to Detroit and lived at home with her dad.
On her 18th birthday she moved into her best friend Marilyn’s parent’s home – Leo and Rose. She lived on the east side of Detroit with them and took care of their 4-year-old little boy. It was during that time she met and married her first husband Duane. They later divorced. She got a job working as a grocery clerk in the store below her apartment. Here’s where everything changed for her. Dad often told this story. “I saw this girl walking across the street and I looked at the guy I was with and said, ‘That’s the girl I’m going to marry.’” And that is exactly what happened.
John and Bernice were married in Las Vegas, Nevada in April 1955. She had seven kids by the time she was 27. They lived in so many places during their 51 years of marriage, which included Detroit, Michigan, Lynwood, California, Moab, Utah, South Bend, Indiana, Oak Lawn, Illinois, Las Vegas, Nevada, San Diego, California, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Guerneville, California, Hawthorne, Nevada, Grants and Milan, New Mexico, Telluride, Colorado, Altamont, Utah, Tucson, Prescott and Phoenix, Arizona, and of course Helper and Price, Utah.
A major turning point in their lives came when, while living in Altamont, they both went back to school to continue their education. Mom took secretarial classes and got a job in the accounting department for the Ute Indian Tribe. After two years, she was promoted to Treasurer of the Ute Tribe and worked there for a total six-and-a-half years. Dad also worked for the tribe as a drug and alcohol counselor.
With Tom, Jodi and Jeff still at home they made the decision to move to Helper where they started the “Employee Help program.” They worked the program and lived in Helper for 12 years. As the demand for coal slowed down so did the funding for the program. It was at that point they moved to Arizona and went to work for Motel 6, managing several different locations.
In 1997, they retired and decided to move back to Price. They lived down the lane from their daughter Jodi and son-in-law Eddie. For the next few years, they traveled and enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John died on July 4, 2006, with his devoted bride (Bee) by his side. Her love for him was such a gift for him and an inspiration for all of us. Bee also survived open heart surgery and breast cancer as well.
Bernice made several trips in her 70s on her own. She went to Phoenix where she attended some Diamondbacks games and met her golfing idol Phil Mickelson. She flew to Seattle where she travelled to La Conner, Washington to the tulip and daffodil fields, went on several ferries, and on her 75th birthday she celebrated dinner at the Space Needle. She also traveled to Detroit, Windsor, Canada, Mesquite, Moab and California to go to Disneyland!!!
Some of her fondest memories were:
All the interesting places she lived. Seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time. Sled riding down the streets of Telluride in the dark by the light of the moon. Catching fireflies in Moab on warm summer nights. Aunt Gloria’s pancakes. Listening and singing to guitar jam sessions with her husband and their friend Dee until the wee hours of the morning. In 1980, mom and dad were delegates at the Democratic convention in New York City. All of the rafting trips at Flaming Gorge. Trips to Lake Powell on houseboats and with their boat. Family reunions with extended family coming from far away like her nieces and nephews Bob, Johnny, Jimmy, Bobbie and Darlene. So many family get-togethers on “E” Street.
Bernice is survived by her children, son, Michael (Tammy) Dinosaur, CO, daughter, Jamie (Mark) Kenmore, WA, son, Douglas (Roslyn) Helper, UT, son, Thomas, Helper, UT, daughter, Jodi (Eddie) Price, UT, son, Jeff, Studio City, CA; 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; lifelong friends, Laura Hansen, Dee Allred and Debbie Henrie.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband John Lewis Warden; son, Randy Warden; grandson, Jason Warden; parents, August and Mary Salewske; brothers, Donald Douglas, Warren Wilber; sister, Marjorie Molley.
It is with such heartfelt gratitude her family would like to thank everyone at Goodlife for their exceptional care and genuine concern for ‘Miss Bee.’ You all made her life easier and more meaningful.
For a life rich with cherished memories, wonderful friends, and family who loves you. You will be forever missed.
A memorial service will be held at a later date when the family can get together and spread her ashes in a special place she loved. In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are always welcome and may share memories online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.