Bernard L. "Bernie" Bowen, son of Roy L. and Geraldine (Millard) Bowen, was born May 2, 1939, in Flandreau, South Dakota, and passed away at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska, on December 5, 2014, at the age of 75. Bernie attended schools in Flandreau graduating in 1957. On August 29, 1958, Bernie and JoAnn Snuggerud were united in marriage in Flandreau where they made their home. Due to Bernie's service career in the National Guard, they were transferred to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, for a year during the Cuban Missile Crisis. They returned to Flandreau and in 1969, the family moved to Norton, KS. Following his retirement from the National Guard, Bernie and JoAnn purchased a grocery store in Almena, KS, and later sold it to one of their daughters and husband. It was then they purchased a small farm where Bernie was finally able to live his dream of raising cattle and growing crops. His passion for farming also led to a job farming ground for Kansas Wildlife and Parks that he enjoyed the last several years. Bernie was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Survivors include: his wife, JoAnn Bowen, of their home in Norton; five daughters, Janette Callaway, and husband, Jeff, Almena, Kansas; Cheryl Kaus, and husband, Don, Norton; Connie Pfannenstiel, Norton; Gail Cathcart, and husband, Bill, Oberlin, Kansas; and Jackie Spires, and husband, Briace "Opie", Stockton, Kansas; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles Bowen, and wife, Darlene, Council Grove, Kansas; one sister, Kathi Olson, Americus, Kansas; other relatives and many friends. Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, his step-father, Albert Otto, and one sister, Charlotte.

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 1:00 pm at Skroch Funeral Chapel with burial in Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Cemetery, Flandreau.