LENA BERTSCH FRITH

Lena Bertsch Frith, 93 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake. Our mother went to her heavenly home surrounded by her loving family and sister, Helen Hanson. Mass of Christian Burial for Lena will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Dale Kinzler celebrating the Mass. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Lena, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Schafer) Ziegler, was born October 25, 1918 in Devils Lake. She attended the Noonan Township Country School, often walking two miles to school. After school, she worked at many places in Devils Lake. When World War II began, Lena and her sister, Helen, moved to Seattle, Washington to work for Boeing Aircraft. She wired the control jack-boxes for the airplanes until the war ended. Then Lena returned to Devils Lake and was united in marriage to Thomas Bertsch on April 29, 1946. They farmed for ten years in the Lawton area before moving to Devils Lake to raise their family. On May 1, 1976 Tom passed away and Lena continued to raise their family in Devils Lake. In 1981, Lena married Bill Frith. During their retirement years, they traveled to many different places. Bill passed away in 1991. Lena was active in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Eagles, VFW, and Elk’s Auxiliaries. She loved to bowl, exercise, and dance, and she was always ready for a good game of cards. Lena is survived by her sister Helen Hanson from Grand Forks; her children and their spouses Linda and John Frelich, Julie and Terry Zander and Tom and Julie Bertsch all from Devils Lake, Lou and Trent Aronson from Bismarck and Laurie and Keith Deutsch from Plaza, ND; twelve grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren; step-children Sharon Demco, Judy Heit, Kevin Frith, Rick Frith and Bill Frith; several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. Lena is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Lena was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Mary; husbands Tom Bertsch and Bill Frith; great grandson James Terry Frelich; sisters Catherine Engelhart, Eva Senger, Marie Gette, Eugenia Busby and Delores Ziegler; brothers Joe, George, Jake and John Ziegler and Edward Ziegler in infancy; step daughter Donna Frith Lays and special friends Don Noltimier. Reading the Scriptures will be Linda Frelich and music will be provided by John Frelich and JoDee Lagein. Gift Bearers will be Lena’s granddaughters Amy McGarvey, Sandie Bergeron and Tiffiney Deutsch. The Casket Bearers will be Lena’s grandsons Terry Frelich, Todd Frelich, Toby Frelich, Thomas Frelich, Travis Aronson, Cory Aronson, Kelly Zander, Chad Zander and Eric Thompson. Altar Servers will be Lena’s great grandsons Josh Frelich and Joseph Frelich.