Berneice LaVera (Kandt) DeWitt

Berneice LaVera (Kandt) DeWitt, 88, passed away on January 26th, 2022, in Ridgewood, NJ. Funeral service will be held on Friday, February 4th, at St. Helens Catholic Church in Hugoton, KS. The Rosary will begin at 1:30 and the service at 2pm with reception following.

Berneice was born on August 31, 1933, on the family farm near Shadybrook, in Dickinson County KS. She attended Union School, a one-room schoolhouse, where half of the students were her siblings. After graduating from Hope High School in 1951, she took a job with a photography studio in Salina, KS where she learned to retouch photos and photo negatives.

Recognizing her natural artistic talents, the studio capitalized by broadened her training to include the ability to colorize photos (before color photography was invented). Her exceptional skills for retouching photo negatives drew accolades from her clientele. Berneice moved to Wichita in the early 1960s to work for a studio and created her business Color by Kandt. During those years in Wichita, her coloring photography work earned her a national award. It was at this time when she met her husband to be, Dennis DeWitt. They were married on May 31st, 1965. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Hugoton, KS to begin their lives together.

Being a devoted mother, to her “three genius daughters” as she liked to introduce them – Tina, Maria and Janelle was her primary focus. When Dennis took over the Hugoton Metal Co, she stepped into running the business as a partner until Dennis passed away in 1996. She also loved following her daughters’ sports and academic careers through high school and college. She traveled to see her girls whenever she could, which took her to many destinations. When she was home, she could always be found in her garden.

Berneice was a devout Catholic and volunteered much of her time first, as a CCD teacher, then for many years as the Director of Religious Education and in addition, served on the Parish Council for St. Helens. She loved watching children light up as they learned about Jesus and being a spiritual mentor for many in the parish. Her impact on the parish education program is immeasurable.

Berneice is preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Sophia Kandt, her husband Dennis DeWitt and her siblings Edward Kandt, Kenny Kandt, Elmer Kandt and Arlene (Gene) McWhirter.

She is survived by her daughters, Tina DeWitt, Maria DeWitt, Janelle DeWitt and siblings Theresa Lorson, Keith Kandt, Bobby Kandt and sister-in-law Joan Kandt.

In lieu of fresh cut flowers please consider either live plants or making a donation in her name to Birthline Inc, in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 423 S. Main St., Hugoton, KS 67951. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.