Berniece Lieber

Berniece Campbell Lieber, 91, of Kansas City, passed away on May 20, 2012. Berniece was born on November 28, 1920 in Westgate, Iowa, the daughter of S.E. and Mary Campbell. Known throughout her life for her beauty and style, Berniece won the title of "Miss Fayette," going on to win "Miss Fayette County" and ultimately placed fifth out of 99 contestants in the 1935 Miss Iowa/Miss America Beauty Pageant, at the age of just 14. She graduated from the College of Education at Upper Iowa College where she was president of the Phi Beta Phi sorority in 1940 and taught first grade for two years in Iowa prior to relocating to Washington, D.C. There during World War II, she worked at the Pentagon as personal receptionist to Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby, the first Director of the Women's Army Corps. Berniece married her high school sweetheart, Ensign James Claxton Lieber, USN, on July 16, 1943. They had three children, James Jr. ("Jace"), Mary Ann ("Penny"), and John.  Throughout her husband's 31-year Naval career, Berniece proudly served as a military wife, making a wonderful home for her family throughout the United States on both East and West coasts, and places in between, in addition to two years in Atsugi, Japan. Berniece and her husband Jim retired to Kansas City in 1989, where she continued to enjoy her long and full life as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was known and cherished by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren as their "Mimi."  Berniece was known as "Bea" to her many friends, both residents and staff, at Kendellwood Hills Estates where she lived independantly and felt very much at home for the past nine years of her life.  Berniece was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, in 1996, and by her sister Margaret Mattke, brother Edward Campbell, and great-granddaughter Alexis Nasteff. Survivors include her three children James Claxton Lieber, Jr (Susie), Mary Ann Reed (Butch), and John Campbell Lieber; eight grandchildren, Mark Nasteff (Amy), Kimberly McCall (Stephan), Amy Suggs, Dan Vogt (Emily), James C. Lieber III (Nina), Matt Vogt (Catherine), John Lieber (Heather), and Kate Absher (Evan); 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22nd, at Mount Moriah Terrace Park in Kansas City. A funeral Mass, celebrated by Father Mike Roach, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 23rd, at St. Therese Church in Parkville. Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home; 801 N.W. 108th Street; Kansas City, MO (816) 734-5500

---