She attended elementary in a one room country school, later graduating from Clinton High School in 1955. Following graduation, Berniece worked as a bookkeeper for KDKD Radio Station in Clinton. Later that year she met Donald Ray Martin when she was a queen candidate at Dairy Days in Deepwater, Missouri. After a two-year courtship, they married on June 16, 1957, bought a farm and began a dairy in rural Appleton City. There they raised their five children.
Berniece was very active in the community and her church. She was a 4-H leader, and an athletic and band boosters member. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, canning, cooking, cake decorating and crafts, but most of all she loved spending time with her family.
Preceding Berniece in death were her husband Donald, her parents Clayton and Martha, her brothers, Robert “Bob” and Clarence Neuenschwander and great-great-granddaughter Melli Dahn Hughes.
Survivors include her five children: Bill Leiber (Barb), Karla Meredith (James), Karol Van Horn (Dallas), Andy Martin and Kristy Stewart (Doug); one sister Carolyn (Neuenschwander) Van Winkle; ten grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Memorials suggested by the family are to Valley Center Cemetery or Valley Center Ladies Aid.
