Berniece (Aurich) Jacobs Filsinger

Berniece (Aurich) Jacobs Filsinger, 90 of Sidney, died May 15, 2015 at Sidney Regional Medical Center. She was born to the late Waldemar and Helena (Horst) Aurich on May 23, 1924, in Gurley. She was baptized June 8, 1924 and confirmed at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sidney on April 2, 1939.

Berniece lived her entire life in Cheyenne County. She attended schools in Brownson and Sidney and was a 1942 graduate of Sidney High School. In 1946 she married Martin Jacobs. Following Martin's death, Berniece raised their three young children. She earned a diploma from the Sidney Beauty Academy and her cosmetology license in 1965.

In 1966, Berniece married Orville Filsinger, owner of Filsinger Excavating Co. in Sidney. They enjoyed entertaining family and friends in their home and remained involved in their church, Holy Trinity Lutheran. Together they raised their six children, and Berniece cherished time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Berniece's life was one of servanthood. She loved being with people and had an extensive circle of friends of all ages. She was a Sunday School teacher for many years, taught adult Bible study, participated in numerous organizations, and was active in church activities to the very end. She was also a member of P.E.O.

Berniece is survived by five children: Pastor Merlin (Ann Augustin) Jacobs of Toledo, OH; Dana (Ron) Anderson of Greeley; Gloria Vegas of San Jose, Calif.; Marvin Filsinger of Sidney; and Javonne (Randy) Krueger of Campbell, Calif. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Martin Jacobs (1955), brother Pastor Verold Aurich (1989), daughter Pam Jacobs (2006), and husband Orville Filsinger (2009).

Services will be held Wednesday, May 20, 10:30 a.m., at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney, with Pastor Eric Alm officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Memorials have been designated to Sullivan Hills Camp, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and The Lutheran Hour. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Tuesday, from 1 to 7 p.m. with family present from 4 to 7 p.m. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Berniece's care and funeral arrangements.