Bernadean Ruth Taraba

Bernadean Ruth Taraba, 96, passed away on May 8, 2018 in Thornton, Colorado. Bernadean Ruth Taraba was born to Guy and Chloe Fleshman on April 17, 1922, in Kirksville, Missouri. She grew up on their farm in northern Missouri. At age 19 she began teaching school in a one-room school house to work her way through teacher’s college. When her best friend was married, she was her Maid of Honor and a young man back home from World War II, David Taraba, was the Best Man for the groom. All four of the wedding party drove to the ceremony in a three-seater car. Bernadean was terribly embarrassed that she had to sit on David’s lap the whole way. David and Bernadean were married on August 10, 1947. They lived in Diamond, Missouri where David farmed and Berrnadean taught home economics in high school. After their first daughter LaNae was born, they purchased a farm near Lucerne, Missouri. Three years later their youngest daughter, Gala was born. Bernadean taught home economics at a nearby high school and later switched to teaching elementary school. Both David and Bernadean were active in the Lucerne Christian Church and the American Legion. Besides working full time, Bernadean tended to her expansive Iris garden, the vegetable garden, tended the chickens, cooked three glorious meals a day, baked scrumptious desserts, made homemade candy at Christmas time, homemade ice cream in the summer, canned great quantities of fruits and vegetables, sewed almost all the clothes for herself and her girls, crocheted, and maybe sometimes slept. She also taught her daughters that “pretty is as pretty does”, to “treat others as you would want to be treated” and reminders of how God said they should be. Besides proper grammar, she taught them interesting vocabulary phrases such as “actually to goodness” and “for cryin’ outloud.” In fall of 1962, school had already begun, but upon a doctor’s advice, the farm was sold and the family moved from the farm to Colorado because of the health of their oldest daughter, LaNae. David and Bernadean never let their daughters know if they were unsettled about the sudden change. Their great faith in God kept the family secure, and God honored that faith. That faith brought them to Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, where Bernadean filled an open position due to a teacher’s illness. In 1966, the family moved to LaJunta, Colorado where Bernadean taught 4th grade at Columbine Elementary School until she retired. She was a lifelong learner and took continuing education courses to hone her teaching skills until her retirement. They continued their gardening there with Bernadean still cooking, canning, sewing, crocheting, crafting and growing flowers. Bernadean and David bought their first camper and enjoyed camping in the summer and fall. In 1979, Both David and Bernadean were retired, and they moved to Pueblo, Colorado. In all their moves, they remained active in the local church where Bernadean taught Sunday School. They opened their home to visiting preachers or young people singing at local churches, and Bernadean kept their guests well fed. It was in Pueblo that Bernadean and David dabbled in interesting health fads. Mom would insist that you try some latest concoction she had made. The strangest being a fermented drink with something called a “mother” floating on top and guaranteed to burn your throat all the way to your stomach. One drink of that surely could cure anything! Camping continued to be a great pastime for Bernadean and David. They had two campers; one smaller motor home and their Silver Streak for longer stays. In that Silver Streak, they soon headed south every winter to Truth or Consequences, NM. In 1996, Bernadean’s life changed drastically when she suffered a severe stroke after colon cancer surgery. The stroke left her unable to talk or walk. Bernadean showed everyone what she was made of by being determined to “beat this thing.” She relentlessly performed the great demands of her therapists (speech, occupational and physical) during the two months she was in the hospital and then after her return to home. She gained back her speech and her ability to walk though with a cane. A scooter was purchased so she could go on long walks with David. They continued to camp and go south for the winter. It was during this time, that she taught David how to cook continuing to comb through recipe books for new recipes. In 2007, David and Bernadean moved to Thornton, CO to live at the Villas at Sunny Acres. Here they became members of Northglenn Christian Church and participated in Bible studies, prayer meetings and vespers held at Sunny Acres. The effects of the stroke strengthened as Bernadean aged and eventually she transitioned to the Med Center where David later moved to be with her. As time went on, Bernadean became quieter and quieter but remained sweet; always with a beautiful smile to greet people who talked to her. On May 8, 2018 (four years and 1 day after David died), Bernadean passed from this earth and walked into heaven. She was preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Chloe Fleshman; her husband, David; her sister, Myrtle & her husband Leonard; sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Christy Hernandez, Ed Hernandez & George Taraba, and two nephews, Johnny Horton and Larry Taraba. Bernadean is survived by daughters LaNae West (Virgil) of Erie, CO; Gala Compton (Tim) of Littleton, CO; grandchildren Chris West (Martha) of Mt. Pleasant, WI; Robert West of Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Brittney Compton, Glendale, CO; Rachel Compton, Littleton, CO; four great grandchildren, Nora, Wyatt, Eliza and Stella; nephews Douglas Hernandez & Terry Taraba, and nieces Louise Taraba, Lavon Hart & Annetta Hamlin; a sister-in-law Neomia Taraba and her family at the Villas at Sunny Acres. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at the Villas at Sunny Acres, 2501 E 104th Ave, Thornton, Colorado. Please share your memories of Bernadean and condolences with her family by leaving a message below.