Memorial service for Edna Katie Bertsch, 91, of Ashley will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Ashley Baptist Church. The Rev. Bill Damberg will officiate.
Lunch and fellowship will follow the service.
Edna died Jan. 7, 2013, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.
Burial was in Bertsch Station Baptist Cemetery on Jan. 12, 2013.
Edna Katie, daughter of Andrew B. and Magdalene (Dockter) Haas, was born on Oct. 2, 1921, near Venturia, N.D.
She attended the Albrights Valley Elementary School in McIntosh County, N.D. Edna was baptized in 1932 at Hoskins Lake, west of Ashley, N.D., and she remained active in the North American Baptist Church all her life. She was a member of the Baptist Youth Fellowship in her youth, the Baptist Church Ladies Aid and Circles, the Eureka Hospital Auxiliary and the Ashley Red Hatters. Edna also volunteered at the Ashley Medical Center Nursing Home during her active retirement years. This activity gave her great joy.
She married Aaron Bertsch on Nov. 8, 1940, at Venturia Baptist Church. To this union three children were born. They were partners in farming, the seed corn business and raising three children.
Upon retirement from farming, Edna followed several of her interests in gainful employment, including sewing and alterations, housekeeping at the Lakeview Motel and the Eureka Hospital in Eureka, Broen Nursing Home, Fergus Falls, Minn. and the State Capital Building in Pierre and care-giving at the Redfield State Hospital, Redfield. Edna's greatest joy was her family. She was an avid gardener and a wonderful cook and baker. Her grandchildren loved her cookies.
Edna has lived on farms near Venturia, N.D. and McLaughlin; in the communities of Eureka; Wishek, N.D.; Venturia, N.D.; Redfield; Fergus Falls, Minn., Pierre and Ashley, N.D.
Edna is survived by a son, Ronald (Ron) and wife, Linda Bertsch, Plattsmouth, Neb.; a son, Gerald (Gerry) and wife, Cynthia Bertsch, Sheboygan, Wis.; and a daughter, Janice (Jan) and husband, Harlan Quenzer, Mitchell; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a brother, LeMar and wife, Jeannie Haas; sisters: Fay Bertsch, LaVilla and husband, Milbert Dollinger, Arly and husband, Dennis Schnabel; many friends, including Chris Maier; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Aaron; brothers: Allen and wife, Ruth Haas, and Aaron and wife, Lori Haas; brother-in-law, Leo Bertsch; and nephew, Lester Haas
Carlsen Funeral Home of Ashley.
carlsenfh.com