August 6, 1940 – January 17, 2023

A memorial service for Bernard Van’t Hul, 82, of Bradshaw, Nebr., will be held Friday, Feb. 3, 2023; 1:00 p.m. at the First Reformed Church, Edgerton, Minn. with Pastor Mark Groen and Pastor Chris Conger of Bagley, Minn., officiating.

Scars In Heaven  by Casting Crowns was the processional; special music, He’s Always Been Faithful, was sung by Vonda Talsma accompanied by Anita Nykamp on the piano. The congregation sang God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again as the recessional, 

Honorary pallbearers were Cody Van’t Hul, Jacob Van’t Hul, Dustin Van’t Hul, Mike Nims, and   Colby Easterberg.

Bernard Milton Van’t Hul was born August 6, 1940, to Burt and Mildred (Chaffin) Van’t Hul in Bellflower, Calif. While growing up, his family moved around a lot. They moved to Hills, Minn., where Bern went to school through his junior year. In 1957, they moved south of Leota, near Kenneth, Minn., and Bern went to Southwest Christian High School for his senior year, graduating in 1958. He then attended St. Cloud State University and received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts. 

On December 18, 1964, he was united in marriage to Bernice Prins at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. They were blessed with three children, Vince, Jason, and Lori.

The couple moved to Lake Benton, Minn. Bern taught Industrial Arts at the school there and then in Audubon, Minn., when they moved to Detroit Lakes. After teaching he began working as an engineer for Product Research and Development (PRD), and continued with the company when they moved to Roy Lake. The couple then moved to Bagley, Minn., where he continued for PRD which changed its name to TEAM Industries. He designed fixtures for assembly lines for snowmobile parts for Polaris. Bern started a business called Northland Kilns in 1995.

In 2005, Bern retired, and he and Bernice enjoyed being snowbirds for 15 years. They bought a home in Pahrump, Nev., and lived there for a few years. In 2021, they moved to Bradshaw, Nebr., to be closer to their daughter.

Bern was soft spoken, but his words spoke volumes. He was gifted in woodworking, etc., and if you imagined it he could make it. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His other hobbies were fishing, traveling, reading, rock hunting (agates), which he made into beautiful jewelry.

On Tuesday morning, Jan. 17, 2023, Bern died peacefully at his home in Bradshaw at the age of 82.

Bern is lovingly remembered by his wife of 58 years, Bernice, his sons, Vince (Tracy) Van’t Hul of Lisbon, N.D., Jason (Danell Jennings) of Bagley, his daughter, Lori (Kelly) Watson of Bradshaw; his 8 grandchildren, Amber (Mike) Nims, Cody Van’t Hul, Jacob (Brianna) Van’t Hul, Dustin Van’t Hul, Haley Van’t Hul, Elizabeth Van’t Hul, Samantha (Colby) Easterberg, and Gracie (Antonio Asevedo) Schied; 10 great-grandchildren; his sister, Sharyl (Roger Schmidt) Van’t Hul of Mankato, his brother, Mark Van’t Hul and friend Joe Perez of Las Vegas, Nev., and sister-in-law, Darlene Van’t Hul of Sioux Falls, S.D.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Burt and Mildred, and his brother, Gerb.