Elfie Schults-Berndt

Elfie Schults-Berndt, 54, died at home on August 31st, 2009 surrounded by her family. She lived well with breast cancer for 9 years. Berndt was the daughter of Eric and Elisabeth Schults. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 3, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 619 Market St., St. Joseph, MI, officiated by the Rev. Thomas Batsky. Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road. Per her wishes, her body is being donated to the Michigan State University School of Medicine. Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Elfie graduated from St. Joseph High School and continued her education at the State University of New York at Buffalo earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in Piano Performance. She completed a Ph.D. in Piano Performance, Music Theory, and Music Literature at Michigan State University. Her principal teachers were Frina Arschanska Boldt, Joseph Evans and Ralph Votapek. On August 15, 1981, she married Brian Berndt, and they were deeply devoted to each other and their children. Elfie is survived by her beloved husband Brian and children Bradford and Alexandra; her mother Elisabeth Schults, her brother Ronald Schults of St. Joseph; in-laws Neil and Louise Berndt; sister-in law Jill (Rodney) Dykehouse Milwaukee; nieces and nephews Matthew, Meredith, Erik, and Sophia. With deep roots in the community, Elfie appreciated raising her children in Stevensville. Elfie was instructor at Hope College from 1989-1991, and then was appointed full-time faculty at LMC where she served as Director of Music, teaching applied piano, music theory, and aural comprehension. She enjoyed performing solo recitals and concertos but her greatest musical interest was found in collaborating with fellow musicians on chamber music. She was in demand as a collaborative artist and appeared frequently throughout the country in chamber recitals, in summer music festivals, and university recital series. She performed in Steinway Hall, NY in May of 2008. Elfie was dearly beloved by her hundreds of students. She was a gifted and inspirational teacher. In return, her students brought her great inspiration, and Elfie always had a good day if she was in the classroom. Elfie taught her students that the important thing in life was not necessarily found through music, but in being the best person you can. Be a force for good. Elfie received numerous awards for her teaching. These included being chosen as the 2006 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Michigan Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), which administers the U.S. Professors of the Year program. She was named LMC Faculty of the Year, 2000; received NISOD Excellence Awards 2000, 2006, (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development); and LMC Professional Development Grants. Elfie has been the heart and soul of the LMC music program for 18 years. Under her leadership the music department flourished. She spearheaded the Music Matters Campaign, through which the school was recognized as the first All-Steinway institution in Michigan. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Music Ministry or Lory’s Place. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.