Sister Bernadette Clifford, 84, dies

ALLIANCE—Sister Bernadette Clifford, 84, of Alliance, died March 8 at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo. Rite of Christian burial was March 18 at Marian Chapel in Alliance with Fr. Matt Koperski officiating. Burial was in the Calvary Cemetery. Bates-Gould Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. She was born Aug. 6, 1937, in Pine Ridge, S.D. to Herbert H. and Jessie M. (McGaa) Clifford and was given the name Anita Clare Clifford. She was the first born and had 12 brothers and sisters. She was raised at Kyle, S.D., on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Her schooling began in 1944 at Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge and she and her brothers and sisters were boarders at Holy Rosary. She graduated in 1956. On Sept. 16, 1956, she went to Marycrest in Denver to join the Franciscan Sisters. During this time, too, she attended Regis College and received her bachlor of arts in elementary education in 1963. On Aug.15, 1957, she received the habit and the name Sister Bernadette. On Aug.15, 1959, she made her temporary vows, and Aug.15, 1964, she pronounced her perpetual vows. From 1960 to 2003 she was an elementary and a primary teacher. She taught at St. Elizabeth’s in Denver, St. Agnes in Scottsbluff, St. Mary’s in O’Neill, St. Francis Mission in South Dakota, Our Lady of Lourdes in Porcupine, S.D., and St. Agnes in Alliance. The highlight of her life was when she volunteered to go to Rome and teach fourth grade in international grade school at the Sister’s Generalate from 1977 to 1980. During these years she also got to work in the curia in the Vatican for the Secretariat of Christian Unity. In 1986 she returned to St. Francis Mission and also to Holy Rosary Mission in Porcupine. In 1997 she moved to Alliance teaching part-time at St. Agnes Academy and serving in various capacities at Marian Residence. She is survived by her siblings, Ralph Clifford of Evansville, Wis., Willard Clifford of Kyle, S.D., Carl Clifford of Kyle, Charlotte Young of Grand Prairie, Texas, Violet Justus of Martin, S.D., Francis Clifford of Valier, Mont., Herbert Clifford of Porcupine, Anna Clifford, and an adopted brother, Adam Clifford. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Ellen Stephen, Emma Clifford, Sharon Clifford and her brother, James.