Funeral Services for 92-year old Bertha Landreth of Chadron, NE, are Monday, October 18, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron.
Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron.
Visitation will be Sunday, October 17, from 3:00-5:00 PM, also at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron.
A memorial has been established for the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Unit. Donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NEB 69337.
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Bertha Margaret Wellnitz Landreth was born January 2, 1929, in Rushville, NE, and passed into the arms of Jesus on October 12, 2021, at Chadron Community Hospital in Chadron.
Bertha was the second child and only daughter of Christian Ernest Wellnitz and Lydia Louise Dreyer Wellnitz, joining older brother Theodore Wellnitz. She grew up on the family farm/ranch and loved the country way of life.
Bertha graduated Rushville High School in 1947 and married Lloyd Landreth later that year. To this union, five children were born – Virginia, Rudy Lloyd, Larry Arthur, Joyce Marie and Bernita Margaret. They grew as a family on 2 ranches, first just north of Rushville then later on north of Hay Springs near Beaver Valley.
Bertha was a multi-talented lady with many artistic gifts. She was a proficient pianist and could play almost any piano piece by ear, so she rarely had any need for sheet music. She loved to entertain her family and at nursing homes and other local events on the piano and accordion.
Bertha was a detail-oriented seamstress, making clothing for family members and hundreds of hand-sewn quilts over the years which were done for charity and also gifted to family and friends alike. She continued to sew with the Immanuel Lutheran Church quilt group up until the last few months prior to her death.
Bertha loved crafting and was extremely creative, always coming up with some new woodworking idea for Lloyd to cut out for her to paint and to share with others.
She was a world-class cook as well and loved making huge Sunday dinners for extended family, as well as cooking at various diners in the area and was camp cook for Beaver Valley Camp for several years. Her meals were often prepared from home grown fruits and vegetables from her own garden and whatever the boys would hunt and bring in for her skillful preparation.
She shared her time with children at the country school down the road as a teacher’s aide in some of the last days that country schools operated.
Her favorite hobby in her later years was following all her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities and she loved sharing her history and wisdom with any of them that asked.
The love of her Savior shone through her in so many ways.
Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Lydia, by her daughter Joyce Jech in a 1987 car accident, her husband Lloyd in 2001 and brother Ted.
She leaves behind her sons Rudy (Patty) Landreth of Morrill and Larry (Teresa) Landreth of Chadron, daughters Virginia Popp of Rapid City, and Bernita (David) Kleensang of Hay Springs, grandchildren Craig Popp, Tracy (Kirk) Felker, Christopher (Heather) Landreth, Amanda Landreth, Amy (Matt) Ormseth, Curtis (Mikel) Landreth, Timothy (Ashley) Jech, Benjamin (Brandi) Jech, Becky (Jon) Carr, Candace (Kyle) Nelson, and Colby (Mylie) Kleensang.
Bertha also leaves behind 22 great-grandchildren (another due soon!) and one great-great-grandchild as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, coffee buddies, and dear friends.
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron, NE is in Charge of Arrangements.