Bertha Linnell

Bertha Linnell, age 94, resident of Aneta, ND died Monday, April 4, 2011 at the Aneta Parkview Health Center in Aneta, ND.

Bertha was born April 24, 1916 to Lars and Gunhild (Prestegaarden) Hillesland at the family farm in Nelson County, North Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed at Sundahl Lutheran Church in Aneta, North Dakota, educated in country schools and graduated from Aneta High School in 1935. She became a "navy wife" in 1940 when she married Ervin Lovejoy in Norfolk, Virginia. They lived in Norfolk, VA, Bend, OR, San Diego, CA and Kenosha, WI. Their home was blessed with two sons, Michael and Stephen. Ervin Lovejoy passed away in 1962 and Stephen in 1975.

In 1967 Bertha married Rollie Linnell and moved to Aneta, ND. While in Aneta she helped her husband's store, "Rollie's Grocery", and worked as a clerk for the US Postal Service. With the help of the Aneta Booster Club and Senior Citizen's Club she was instrumental in getting the Senior Meals program to Aneta and was site manager until she moved back to Wisconsin following Rollie's death in 1977.

Home and family meant much to her and she enjoyed all areas of homemaking-especially baking and flower gardening. Music, especially singing, was an important part of her life and she was active several years in a community chorus in Kenosha, WI as well as church choirs in Bend, OR, Kenosha, WI and Aneta, ND. She was a member of Sundahl Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary in Aneta.

Arthritis in later years greatly hampered her volunteer work in church and community. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, son Stephen, sisters: Julia Johnson, Gina Mutchler, Annie Lovejoy and Gladys Brudvig; brothers: Dick, Fred, Dan, Nels, Louie and Envin. She is survived by her son Michael, daughter-in-law Linda, grandson Christopher and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be Monday, May 9th, 2011 at 10:00 AM in the Sundahl Lutheran Church, Aneta, ND. Officiating will be Reverend Kenneth Iverson. Interment will be in Sunset Ridge Memorial Garden in Kenosha, WI.