Memorial services for 90-year old Bertha Buchan are Sat, Oct 14, 2023 at 10:00 at St Leo’s Catholic Church in Gordon, NE.
Vigil will be Friday, Oct 13, at 7:00 at St Leo’s Catholic Church.
Bertha Lena Buchan was born in Santa Fe, NM on October 30, 1932, to Willard F. and Bertha E. (Berchtold) Clark. She passed away September 23, 2023, at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs, NE.
Bertha went to Loretto Academy in Santa Fe until WWII broke out, then moved to Los Alamos, where her father worked for the government. They moved back to Santa Fe in 1947 and she graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1950.
After graduation, Bertha moved to Santa Barbara, CA, with her parents, but they moved back to Santa Fe before long and began attending the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
That is where she met her future husband, Robert Buchan. Bertha and Bob eloped in Albuquerque in 1952 and remained married until his death in 2000.
To their union were born five children: Robert Jr, Willard (Bill), Burton (Butch), Barbara Anna, and Byron.
The family lived in Gordon, except for brief moves to other places, from 1952 until 1981 when they moved to Rushville, NE. After Bob’s passing in 2020, Bertha moved to the Pioneer Manor and remained there until she passed herself.
Bertha worked for Montgomery Wards in Gordon for 12 years, then in the office at Gordon Memorial Hospital for 22 years until her retirement in 1998.
Bertha enjoyed her children and grandchildren and their many friends. She loved all people and was always accepting – believing that people learn so much from others and to be tolerant.
Bertha enjoyed painting and drawing, crafts, and CB radio, the stars in the night sky. She always had a smile.
Berth is survived by her children: Butch (Rosie) of Texico, NM; Barb (Rich Schrader) of Rapid City, SD; and Byron (Kim) of Gordon; her grandchildren Heather, Skye Lee, Karie, Julie, La Shona, Jared, Justin, Ryan, Shane, Eric, Tyler, Seth, Jamie, Courtney, and Micheal; several great-grandkids; her nephew Kevin Ryan; and her niece Andrea Senutovitch
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert; her sons Robert Jr and Willard; her grandson Beau; her parents Willard and Bertha E Clark; her in-laws Cecil and Blanche Buchan; her sister Doris Senutovitch; her niece Sherry DeBellas; her aunt Clara Mabry; her uncles Victor Berchtold, Chick Berchtold, Henry Berchtold; and two infant great granddaughters.
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