BERTHA ELLEN DEMLER (HALSTEAD)

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BERTHA ELLEN DEMLER (nee HALSTEAD) Bertha passed away peacefully on Friday, March 26, 2004 at the Boyne Lodge in Carman. She is survived by her children, Alan Demler of Starbuck, MB, Sharon (Rodger) Ferrill of Winnipeg, Jack (Kathy) Demler of Boyle, AB, Jim (Debbie) Demler of Gabriola Island, BC; her beloved grandchildren, Kim and Barry, Beth and David, Debbie and Serge, Alan and Laurel, Michael and Dawn, Chris, Tim, Becky, Tricia, Jennifer and Justin; and great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Donovan, Max, Kyle, Ayanna, Christian and Natasha. She is also survived by her brother Tom Halstead, sister Lillias Baker, sisters-in-law, Molly Nevin, Francis Wilson, Pat Johnson, Anne (Harold) Heatherington, Bernice Darling, Helen Kaiser and Grace Halstead; brother-in-law Jim Thomson and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Harvey and Ann Halstead; her beloved husband Peter; her daughter-in-law Faye; sisters, Dorothy Anderson and Millie Elliot; and brothers, Les Halstead and Norman Halstead. Bertha was born in Myrtle, MB September 22, 1912. She had her early schooling in Myrtle then went on to get a teaching certificate at the Normal School in Winnipeg. She taught in several one-room schools in Manitoba before she met and married Peter and settled on a farm in Starbuck. She was an enthusiastic member and leader of community groups that included 4H, CGIT, Eastern Star, the United Church and the Prairie View Ladies Aid. She also put on amateur concerts for the March of Dimes and helped raise the money to build a Seniors Home in Starbuck. She couldnt sing a note but loved to be on stage, so she did comic sketches and was well remembered for her peg-leg dance. She was expert seamstress, enjoyed all types of crafts, wrote poetry and was a wonderful baker and homemaker. She travelled extensively with her husband visiting family all over Canada, the USA and Europe. She kept diaries of her travels and masses of photographs. Always the teacher, she instilled in her children and grandchildren a love of life and a love of laughter. There wasnt a joke she didnt like, even if the joke was on her. She will be sadly missed by her family and many friends and neighbours. We shall be forever grateful for the kind and gentle care she received at Boyne Lodge during her stay there. Her life will be celebrated by a service at the Trinity United Church in Starbuck. on Wednesday, March 31 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Peter Mitchell officiating. Interment will be in the Starbuck Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Starbuck United Church, the Boyne Lodge in Carman, or to a charity of ones choice. Flowers gratefully declined. Doyles Funeral Chapel of Carman in care of arrangements. (www.doyleschapels.com)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 28, 2004