Berneta Shults

December 17, 1946 - June 20, 2019

Berneta Rose (Tanking) Shults, 72, passed away on June 20, 2019, at her home in Topeka. She was born at home on Dec. 17, 1946, in Oneida, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence and Cecilia (Peppersack) Tanking. Berneta grew up with her eight siblings on the family farm in St. Benedict and Netawaka. She graduated from Netawaka High School in 1964. Berneta married Houston Dean Shults on Jan. 15, 1966, at Assumption Catholic Church. They celebrated their 53rd anniversary earlier this year. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence “Doc” and Cecilia Tanking, and brother Jim. Survivors include her husband, Dean; sister, Mary Cheray (John); and brothers Don Tanking (Barb), Larry Tanking (Alberta), Jerry Tanking (Denise), Kenny Tanking (Louise), Randy Tanking (Alice) and Rich Tanking; and children Dawn Rottinghaus (Steve), Darren Shults (Margaret) and Faron Shults (Shannon); and five grandchildren, Ashtyn and Kelsey Rottinghaus, Erica Shults, and Mary and Matthew Shults. Berneta was a loving wife, mother and grandmother known for her strong work ethic and her baking, especially pies, cinnamon rolls and bread. She was a cook at Mission Valley High School in the 1970s before she owned and operated Katie’s Korner in St. Marys for 11 years. Berneta was the baker for Annie’s Place in Topeka 23 years and the last four years at Sommerset Hall Café, known as the “Best Café in Dover.” She never lost her love for baking. She was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, where she volunteered at funeral dinners for several years. She and her family also organized a car show at the Homestead of Auburn Assisted Living for the past 11 years to benefit the Cerebral Palsy of Topeka. A rosary will be said on Thursday, June 27 at 5 p.m. at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614, followed by visitation until 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church on Friday, June 28 at 10:00 a.m. The rosary will be prayed one half hour prior to Mass. Interment will be at Dover Cemetery, Dover KS, at 1:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Church or Cerebral Palsy of Topeka, sent in care of the funeral home.