JOHANNA J. "Jenny" BERTSCH

Johanna J. Bertsch, 96 of Devils Lake ND, passed away early Saturday morning, November 23, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake. She will be greatly missed by her loving family. Mass of the Resurrection for Johanna will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Devils Lake, with Fr. Matthew Kraemer presiding over her "Celebration of Life". Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral home, Monday, November 25th, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be visitation one hour before the 10:00 a.m. funeral Mass on Tuesday. Casket Bearers will be Tim Senger, Joe Leiphon, Jeff Bakke, Jon Bakke, Greg Schafer and Kelly Swanson. Eucharistic Gifts will be presented by Jenny's sisters, Marie, Marcella, Donna, Diane and sister-in-law, Rose. A special tribute will be given to her mother by Connie Labat. Johanna (Jenny), daughter of Anton and Helen (Ziegler) Senger was born on July 25, 1917, on the family farm near Orrin, ND. She lived in the Orrin area and was educated in the country schools there until 1929 when the family moved to rural Devils Lake. Her mother had died in childbirth when she was 6 years old. Her father then remarried. She worked very hard on the farm, helping with household chores and a family of 13 children. At age 19 she worked for neighbors and relatives as a hired girl, doing housework and caring for children. While working for the Bertsch family, Jenny met her future husband, Ferdinand (Fred) Bertsch. They were united in marriage on October 10, 1938, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in rural Garske. The established their home on a farm in the Garske area and later moved to Devils Lake. Later they left North Dakota and went into partnership with Wendelin and Catherine Senger, operating Olga Store, a country general store and gas station between Gully and Fosston, MN. Fred later worked for Standard Oil in Gully for a few years, and then when a job opportunity came in Morris, they moved and made Morris their home for 35 years. After retiring, Jenny and Fred returned to Devils Lake to be closer to their family and friends from the earlier years. Fred passed away September 19, 2000, and Jenny continued to make Devils Lake her home until her death. Jenny was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was very devoted to her religious beliefs. She also enjoyed gardening, baking, crocheting beautiful doilies and afghans for her friends, relatives, and each and every new great grand baby! She enjoyed playing cards and doing various puzzles to keep her mind active in her later years. Jenny is survived by her daughters, Helene (Jack) Bartlett of Minneapolis, Connie Labat of Mesa, AZ, and son, Ronald Bertsch of Philipsberg, MT; grandchildren, Kelly (Russ) Swanson, Greg Bartlett, Chris (Tracey) Bartlett, Kara (David) Schlemmer, and Jeff (Tina) Bakke, Jon (Rachelle) Bakke, and Lynne (Steve) Hughes: 21 great grandchildren, Cory, Ryan, Anna Swanson, Augie and Rusha Bartlett, Macaiah Bartlett, Nicholaus, Kathryn, Joe and Samantha Schlemmer, Ellen, Lauren, David and Olivia Bakke, Jenna, Branden, Justin and Alaina Bakke, John, Alexander and Anne Hughes; brother, Tim (Rose) Senger of Devils Lake, sisters, Marie (Joe) Bosch and Marcella Schafer, all of Devils Lake, Isabelle (Paul) Bosch of Phoenix AZ, Louise (Ed) Everson of Bismarck ND, Donna (Joe) Leiphon of Devils Lake, Diane Christianson of Bismark ND, and many nieces and nephews. Jenny was preceded in death by her parents, husband Fred, son-in-law Rod Labat, brothers Wendelin, Johnny, Frank, and Joseph in infancy; sisters Margaret Jager and Frances Wentz.