Viva "Berdie" Henry

Viva (Berdie) Henry, 67, of South Sioux City, NE passed away at a Sioux City hospital on Sunday, August 5, 2012.Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, August 10, 2012 at the Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City, NE. Burial will be in the Dakota City Cemetery in Dakota City, NE. Visitation will begin at the funeral home at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 9, 2012, with the family present at 5:00 P.M. and a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. Online condolences to the family may be posted at www.mohrfuneralhome.com.Our mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend was born on July 22, 1945 in Sioux City, IA, the daughter of Donald and Donnie (Johnson) Conklin. Mom grew up in the Sioux City and South Sioux City area, attending South Sioux City Schools and Central High School. She married Lyle Henry on May 6, 1961 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sioux City, IA. By the time mom was 21, they had 6 children. Although they later divorced, they remained very close friends until Berdie's passing. She was a dedicated employee of the South Sioux City School District and worked very hard to support her children. She had a gift of being able to create elaborate decorations with minimal resources, and loved to decorate for holidays. She loved making lists and when we were young each of us always had our list of things she wanted us to do. Our mom was a very compassionate, kindhearted, funny, organized, say what you mean, and mean what you say kind of person and had a good disposition towards others. We as her children know that first hand. She taught us qualities that we have instilled in our everyday lives and for that we thank her. We would not be who we are today if it wasn't for her. Towards the end of her life she prepared each of us for her passing with conversations about everyday life issues or just to tell us something funny. After her passing another example of her forever giving ways, she was able to donate to the Iowa Organ Donor Network.Throughout our parent's relationship they clearly loved one another, despite them divorcing. Following their divorce their children spent very few holidays and birthdays without both them being present. This clearly is a lasting sign of their friendship and love for each other up to her passing. Her relationship with our dad's brothers and sisters remained loving and caring and she cherished every moment she had with them. We as a family would like to thank Jack Berg. For 32 years Jack has been Mom's companion and provided such joy and happiness to our mom's life. They enjoyed going to Nebraska games, day-vacations as Mom would say, enjoyed spending endless summers at the cabin, both Jack and Mom loved to dance and just spend quality time together in the morning at her kitchen table. Mom loved Jack to the fullest and we as a family know he loved her. To our brother Lyle who dedicated countless hours to making sure our mother was taken care. Thank you and we love you.Left to cherish her memory are five children and their spouses: Troy and Allison Henry, Tracy Henry and Rick Rodriguez, Dawn and Gordon Brown, Tonya and Will Meier, Lyle Henry and his special friend Carol. Thirteen grandchildren: Kristina, Kassy, Tony, Nick, Morgan, Austin, Jade, Whitney, Mackenzie, Raelyn, Megan, Alexandria, Claire. Ten great grandchildren: Sam, Gaby, Angel, Christian, Diego, Remee, Tatum, PennyLane, Raiden, and coming in November, Jetta. Brothers and sisters: Tyrone Conklin of Las Vegas, NV, Donald, Cathy, Chris and Frank; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and countless friends.She was preceded in death by a daughter Dina Marie; great granddaughter Alyana Elizabeth; her father Donald Conklin; and her mother Donnie SnyderPallbearers will be Tony Crow, Nicholas Hoffman, Morgan Meier, Austin Henry, Kassy and Remee Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren.We would like to thank Doug and the ICU Staff at Mercy Medical Center for their kind and gentle compassion they provided our mother and us at this difficult time. Doug provided our mother the utmost care and dignity she deserved. xoxoxo