Beatrice Bernice Hawkins

Beatrice Bernice Hawkins, 95, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Monday, May 9, 2022, at the Primrose Cottages.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Aberdeen, with Father Andrew Dickinson officiating.

Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Beatrice Bernice Brendel was born August 15, 1926, in Aberdeen, SD, being the seventh of nine children to Walter and Bernadine (Geier) Brendel. She spent her early years in Aberdeen; however, Walter moved the family to Vancouver, Washington during the depression era to find work.

Beatrice met Lawrence Hawkins while his ship was in dry dock for repairs after being damaged in the Pacific campaign. They were married on September 30, 1944, in San Francisco, California. They were happily married for 69 years prior to the passing of Lawrence in 2014.

During the first twenty years of their marriage, they lived in several locations as Lawrence, still in the Navy, moved from assignment to assignment. During this period, Beatrice was busy raising her two sons, which was a full-time job. In 1956 they made their final move from San Diego, California to Aberdeen. Where Beatrice was reunited with her brothers and sisters. In 1960 Beatrice was employed by Cook’s Jewelry and soon became Manager. She worked at Cook’s until the store closed in 1983. Beatrice and Lawrence volunteered at Saint Lukes's hospital and Aberdeen Moose Lodge for a number of years. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She also enjoyed gardening and working in her backyard, winning ‘Aberdeen Yard of the Week’ on one occasion.

Beatrice is survived by her sons: Larry (Denzil) Hawkins of Eagle, Idaho, and Dr. Darrell (Beckie) Hawkins of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren: Tracy (Derek) Wilson, Dr. Jay (Kelli) Hawkins, Jennie (Zander Slaughter) Hawkins, Michael Hawkins, Danette Cooper, Dan Cooper; great-grandchildren: James, Clara, Samuel, Daniel, Sean; and Beatrice’s nieces Linda Kiefer, Peggy Kimball and nephews Randy Brendel, and Bill Kimball who were always there to give her a helping hand.

Beatrice was preceded in death by Lawrence; her parents, Walter and Bernadine Brendel; six sisters and 2 brothers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are made to The Wounded Warriors Project either online at support.woundedwarriorproject.org or by telephone at # 1-877-958-2233.