Berniece D. Crist, age 91 of Stanwood, passed away on April 6, 2014 at Keystone Cedars in Cedar Rapids following a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M on Wednesday April 9, 2014 at the Stanwood Union Church with Pastor Phil Leipold officiating. Burial will follow in the Stanwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Berniece was born the daughter of Wilbur and Anna (Walenta) Wentzel on August 25, 1922 near Tipton. She attended a Business College in Davenport and held a secretarial position in Tipton. Berniece married Mearl E. Crist on March 12, 1948 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Together they farmed between Stanwood and Tipton. He died on November 17, 2001. Berniece had a passion for horses, cooking, baking, gardening, sewing and raising her family. Many hours were spent listening to the Open Line on WMT radio and copying down recipes that she would test out at a later date. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, kindness and gratitude for all those that helped her through her health challenges in the later years of her life. Berniece is survived by her daughter, Janis of Houston, TX.; son, Kevin (Kathy) of Cedar Rapids; and two granddaughters, MacKenzie and Madeline of Cedar Rapids. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Harold; and her husband.