ROBERTA "BERTA" M (RONNING) SOPER

Roberta M. “Berta” Soper, 66 of Webster, ND passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at Trinity Health, Minot, ND. Graveside Services will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Devils Lake Cemetery.  Roberta was born on May 2, 1948 in Rugby, ND the daughter of Robert and Agnes (Ellingson) Ronning. She grew up and was educated in the Lake Region area and graduated from Devils Lake Central High School with the class of 1966. She attended Lake Region Junior College and graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree with academic honors. She graduated from UND with a Bachelors’ Degree in Social Work in 1970 and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Berta was united in marriage to Ronald D. “Ron” Soper on May 29, 1971 at Devils Lake where they established their home where they lived and worked through the years. In 1990 they moved to Webster and have called it home ever since. After college, Berta worked in the clothing and fashion industry for several years, and was the manager of the Herbst Women’s Specialty Store in the Holiday Mall. Eventually Berta’s career would take her on a journey that would revolve around children and young adults and her nurturing, loving and caring spirit. She was employed as a counselor and instructor on job training programs at Lake Region State College and for the Spirit Lake Tribe. She became very involved in the Foster Care Program and she and Ron alone had 68 foster care placements in their home and felt truly blessed to adopt 3 beautiful daughters from that program. Wanting to share her blessing with others, Berta worked tirelessly with PATH and AASK and blessed many more families and special children to become a new family. She worked for several years at the Human Service Center as a Day Care Program Coordinator. At the time of her death, Berta had dedicated many hours and given selflessly as the Social Worker for the Mercy Hospice Program. No matter how busy Berta’s life was, she felt a duty to serve her community as well. She was elected to the City Commission on August 25, 1981 and was elected the President “Mayor” of the Commission on April 1, 1986 and served a four year term. Her portfolio as a city commissioner included Street and Sanitation and later she was named the Police Commissioner and Fire Commissioner. Berta was a devoted loving wife and mother and woman of great faith. She was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and the WELCA and was Past President of the congregation. She gave countless hours to the church and the community to bring beauty and blessings to every life she touched with her generous, caring heart. Berta found time for her hobbies too. She loved auction sales, antiques, trying every new craft or art project that was popular at the time. She could turn anyone’s “junk” into a treasure. She always was fashion conscious, loved vintage and designer clothing and always challenged herself to get all of those things at bargain prices. We can’t imagine life without our Berta and as family and friends of Berta we feel this saying by Erma Bombeck best describes Berta’s life. “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything You gave me.” and she did. Berta is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Ron; daughters Chelsea (Robert) Webster, Issaquah, WA, Michelle (Brandon) Nelson, Egeland, ND, Samantha Soper, Devils Lake and Kimberly (fiancé, Gregg Taphouse) Soper, Fargo; grandchildren Aroura, Zobias, Illyana and a grandson soon to be born; sisters Karn Alm, Thornton, CO and Julie (Randy) Ronning Talbot, Sedona, AZ; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Dwight and Mary Soper, Waterloo, IA, Larry and Darcie Soper, Kennesaw, GA and Cindy and Keith Myhre, Devils Lake; godchildren Jody East, Noah Ellingson and Matthew Fee; many nieces and nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother-in-law Larry Alm and in-laws Donald and Shirley Soper. Casket Bearers will be Noah Ellingson, Robert Webster, Dwight Soper, Greg Soper, Sam Desai and Nik Desai Honorary Bearers are the brothers and sisters of the 12 Step Program.