Bernita Stiles

Long time Fort Dodge resident Bernita Eileen Sinderson (Sindy) Stiles, born August 30, 1928 in Newton, Kansas, lost a valiant fight against cancer January 21, 2016 in Friendship Haven's Simpson Center, surrounded by her family. Sindy known as “Teta” to her immediate family was the daughter of Ben and Florence Sinderson. During her youth, the Sinderson family moved frequently following her father's preaching assignments in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas and Iowa. She was valedictorian of her 1946 Bedford Iowa High School class. While enrolled at Drake University, she met, then married Robert (Bob) Stiles, a returning World War II veteran on March 26, 1948. Bob and Sindy settled in Newton, Iowa where they raised their four children. Sindy was office manager for the Jasper County Mental Health Center in Newton for three years before she started teaching; one year in Newton and 22 in the Fort Dodge School system as a sixth grade science and art teacher. She earned her BA degree in 1972, and was awarded her Master's Degree in 1975 both from Drake University. The family moved to Fort Dodge in 1967 where Bob and Sindy taught in the Fort Dodge Public School system and where they both retired from teaching. Sindy fought tirelessly to help bring a new library to Fort Dodge. She was a member of the Fort Dodge Public Library Board (1988 – 1994), a Webster County Soil Conservation Commissioner for 5 years, co-president of Webster County Retired Teachers and President of the United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church. She was an avid reader but also enjoyed oil painting, crafts, rock collecting, furniture refinishing, gardening, photography and volunteering. After retiring, she and Bob traveled to watch grandchildren compete in sports, attended high school musicals, and played golf on couple's night. She was preceded in death by husband Bob and her parents. She is survived by her younger sister, Billie Bauman of Des Moines; sister-in-law Lorna Stiles of Audubon, her four children; John and wife Kat Hudson of Bangkok, Thailand and Blue Hill, ME; Randy and wife Jan of Melbourne, FL; Sue Hilinski and husband Tom of Lake Mary, FL; and Scott and wife Karen of Fort Dodge; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Memorials are preferred to the Fort Dodge Public Library.  

A celebration of life service will be held May 7, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge.  Visitation will be Saturday 9:00 a.m. until the time of services also at the church.  Burial will be at Highland Township Cemetery in Bayard, Iowa at 2:00 p.m.. Historic Bruce Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. On line condolences may be directed to www.brucesfuneralhome.com