Age 94, Loveland, CO and Lawton, OK - Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Wednesday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church with Rev. Don Howard, Pastor officiating. Mrs. Payne died Thursday, March 20, 2008 in Lawton. Burial with military honors will be in the Post Cemetery, Fort Sill, under the direction of Becker Funeral Home. *** The Family will greet friends Tuesday evening at the funeral home from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. *** She was born April 22, 1913 North of Loomis, Nebraska to George and Edith Brodine Hendrickson. She graduated from Holdrege High School in Nebraska and received her nursing degree in 1935 at Emanuel Hospital in Omaha. She later moved to Los Angeles, where she practiced nursing at Good Samaritan Hospital. A natural beauty, Bernice also modeled hats in Los Angeles. In 1945 she joined the U.S. Army Nursing Corps, where she met and married Lt. Lloyd C. Payne, Jr. Their Army life took them to Japan in 1952-53, and to Germany in 1956-59, and 1963-66. These tours were interspersed with several assignments at Fort Sill, OK, where they retired in 1970. In Lawton, she was active in the Pansy Garden Club, and was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Her family has been blessed throughout the years by Bernice's strength, adventurous spirit, generosity and mischievous sense of humor. She leaves us all a legacy of wonderful memories. She is survived by her four children, Kristine Rome and her husband Lew of Bloomfield, CT, Ann LaRose and her husband Bruce of West Plains, MO, Lloyd C. Payne III of Lawton, OK, and Heidi Payne also of Lawton. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, Keith Hansen and his wife Marivel of Linwood, KS, Meghan Hill and her husband Chad of Osterville, MA, and Jessica, De, and Libby Cooper of Lawton. She was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Allyson Nicole Hansen and Colt Brady Hill. Bernice was very close with her sister Marguerite's children and their families, Warner Swan Lundeen and his wife Jo Ellen of Holdrege, George Lundeen and his wife Cammie of Loveland, Joe Lundeen and his wife Peggy of Mesa, AZ, Nelse Lundeen and his wife Bets of Loveland, Carol Lundeen Hansen and her husband Michael of Omaha, NE, and Mark Lundeen and his wife Liz of Loveland, and many great-nieces and nephews. She also leaves her devoted friend and caretaker Ellen West and her husband Dan of Loveland. She also leaves behind her lifelong friends, Elaine Sveiven, Reet Elliot, Charlotte Addis, and Traute "Hansi" Whitlox. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Lt.Col. Lloyd Payne, Jr. She was also preceded by her siblings Wayne Hendrickson, Lester Hendrickson, and Marguerite Hendrickson Lundeen. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 2105 NW 38th Street, Lawton, OK 73505 or to a charity of the donor's choice.