Bertha Virchow, 87, Austin

Staff

Published Saturday, April 30, 2005

The funeral service for Bertha M. Virchow, of Austin, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 2, at First Lutheran Church in Glenville. Vicar Christopher Miller will officiate. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Glenville. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea and one hour before service at the church.

Bertha died on Thursday, April 28, 2005, at St. Mark's Lutheran Home in Austin. She was 87 years old.

Bertha was born in Pine River, Minn. on Feb. 4, 1918, the daughter of Swan and Margrethe (Aacrid) Ness. She attended country school in Pine River. She was married to Arley R. Virchow on May 18, 1941 in Myrtle, Minn.

She had lived in Pine River, rural Gordonsville, and retired in Glenville. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle before joining First Lutheran Church in Glenville. She was a circle member and enjoyed quilting with the ladies.

Bertha worked hard farming along side her husband, Arley. She also worked for many years at Land O'Lakes. Bertha had been a Red Cross Blood Donor more many years.

Bertha enjoyed gardening, canning, crocheting, fishing and camping. Her greatest pleasure was the time she spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. In her spare time she did a lot of crafting and enjoyed playing Bingo.

Bertha is survived by her children: Ann Virchow of Austin, Ruth (Joe) VanHooser of Austin, James (Linda) Virchow of Iowa Falls; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister: Judy Carlson of Pine River; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Pearl (Gaylen) Mittag of Albert Lea, Vern Virchow of Glenville; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Charles; six sisters and one brother.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---