Bernice “Boots” Belle Lancaster Dickey, age 97, of Elgin, passed away Jan. 14, 2022.
Bernice was born April 10, 1924, in Beaukiss, to Cliff Lancaster and Jennie Lynn King Lancaster.
She was given the nickname “Boots” by her father based off a character in the funny papers. Boots graduated from Thrall High School in 1941. She married Otis Dickey shortly after on May 24, 1941. From this marriage, they had two daughters.
Boots was an excellent seamstress. She made her daughters’ prom dresses and coats among many other things. She spent her life ranching and farming sweet potatoes and peanuts. Boots was always outside on the fence line with Otis and could keep up with the best of the men. She was very fit and worked out to her Jane Fonda videos into her early 70s.
She was an avid domino player who loved 42 and was a lifelong member and founder of Yegua Creek Evangelical Free Church. She was a great cook and fixed family meals up until the day she no longer was able to. Her signature dish was peach cobbler.
She would often take walks and hunt for arrowheads and loved to read. Boots was independent minded and ahead of her time. She was loving, very hard working, and had a lot of friends. She was a no-nonsense mother and grandmother.
Boots was preceded in death by her parents, Cliff and Jennie Lancaster; her sisters, Zuma Lancaster and Vada Elam; her husband, Otis Dickey; and her son-in-law, Harvey Nemec.
Boots is survived by her daughters, Donna Nemec and Kathy Bartz and husband, Howard, both of Beaukiss; her granddaughters, Amy Nemec, Holli Poling and husband, Mat, and Jenny Leschber and husband, Matthew, all of Beaukiss; and six great grandchildren, Kyge Poling, Caden Leschber, Bryce Poling, Addison Belle Leschber, Joshua Poling, and Brynn Leschber, all of Beaukiss.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Jan. 22, at 11 a.m. at Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Beaukiss Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home.
