Bertha A. Friesen, 92, of Fairbury, NE, passed away February 20, 2023, at JCH&L Gardenside. April 10th 1930, on the Friesen farm just north of Jansen, Nebraska, Abraham paced nervously as his wife Elizabeth was bringing a young baby into the world.  It is a girl the shout rang out over the first cries from the bedroom.

Bertha was part of a five girl two parent farmstead. As a child she loved to play with her dolls, playing hide and go seek, fox and goose and tag with her sisters and two friends, Vivian Cope and Bernice Smith.  Bertha also helped with chores feeding the chickens and milking the cows.  She loved her cats and dogs and a couple cows she called pets.

One of Bertha’s earliest memories is one day after playing, she came into the house where her mother discovered she had chicken pox. Bertha remembers the rationing of stamps during WW2.

Bertha loved cabbage soup, chicken noodle soup, and watching and helping her mother make long john doughnuts for guests and knitting sweaters.  Bertha loved going to church, the Christmas programs, and special holiday dinners with her family.

Bertha remembers her framing father and him going to a lot of sales as a child.  He engrained in the daughters to take care of each other, and they carried this on into adulthood.  Bertha loved to play uno and word searches and many other activities at Gardenside. 

A graveside service will be held at the Jansen Cemetery on Friday February 24, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Paul Carpenter officiating. Memorials will go to the Family’s Choice. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com