Bertha is almost lost to history. We know that she was born in Norway and came to South Dakota to help her niece, Mrs. Olai, (Minnie) Bergh, take care of her children. She's buried next to the Bergh grave section in the Bergh Cemetery. There are eight grandchildren surviving of Grandpa Olai and Grandma Minnie Bergh. It was our parents that Bertha helped to raise. In spite of her involvement in the family none of these grandchildren have any memory of their parents ever mentioning Bertha. Grandpa Bergh wrote a brief biography during his retirement and he makes no mention of Bertha.
Why is Bertha's history a blank? All we have is conjecture. My guess is that she was ignored because she was a single woman who lived her life quietly helping her niece. She was the kind of woman that was often overlooked.
It's now over a hundred years since she died. Her name stone, that was sinking into the sod, now rests on a granite foundation, as do the stones of her niece and four of the children for whom she cared. Her foundation has space for a plague which will read "Aunt of Minnie Bergh." No one who visits her grave will need to wonder about her place in the Bergh Cemetery. She will be anonymous no more. May she rest in peace.
Ordering the plaque for Bertha's foundation was an interesting slice of South Dakota life. There's an engraving shop on Brookings, S.D's., main street. To last in perpetuity they recommended an aluminum engraved sign. After agreeing on the dimensions and wording all they asked of me was my name and phone number, which is a Minneapolis number. The plaque will cost $250.00, yet they didn't even ask for a down payment!
Takk for alt,
Al
Bertha's marker on the foundation with space on side for the plaque.
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