Bertness, Yvonne (1920-2008)
BERTNESS, PETERSEN, GEROW, HICKEY, PETERSON, MCCABE
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/4/2010 at 12:54:22
Yvonne Bertness - Dec. 11, 1920 - Oct. 19, 2008
Yvonne Elizabeth Petersen was born December 11th, 1920 in Linn Grove, Iowa to Oscar and Emily (Gerow) Petersen. She was raised on a farm near Linn Grove, and graduated from Linn Grove High School with honors. When she was six, she lost her mother, and when she later was in high school, Oscar married Luella (Hickey) Petersen who became Yvonne’s much-loved step mother. Following high school, Yvonne attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, where she graduated Cum Laude. During those years she met and married Raymond Bertness of Sioux Rapids. To this union were born four children: Scott, Jan, Marc and Kevin.
Yvonne had a life-long commitment to and passion about people and animals, teaching, learning, reading & books, and travel to other cultures and geographies. She taught school at various times throughout her life, and even in retirement continued to teach classes at the Care Center. She never met an educational book she didn’t love (and subsequently acquire), and instilled that love of books, reading, and learning in all of her children. She was particularly fond of Russian art and culture and in addition to travelling to the U.S.S.R., acquired a collection of Russian art objects and books.
She was active in her community as a member of P.E.O., Eastern Star, Iowa Clubwomen, and First Lutheran Church to name just a few, and was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Iowa Commission for Mental Health in Des Moines for over twenty years. At one point, Yvonne was a frequent contributor to a radio show on KICD in Spencer speaking on issues of education, mental health, and faith.
Known as “Grandma Kitty” to her grandchildren for the number of housecats she had, plus the myriad ‘barn cats’ she’d feed, she loved all animals, and was fond of saying, “the more I see of some people, the more I like my DOG”. That said, Yvonne was always unfailingly polite and gracious to everyone, and when her children would make some negative comment about someone, she would correct them by saying, “but they have a beautiful soul”.
In addition to her books and community activities, Yvonne was an avid gardener who loved to plant and grow flowers around her home. Her yard always was a profusion of color, even if it meant her hauling bucket after bucket of water in a wagon out to the flower beds in front by the highway, beyond the reach of the garden hose.
Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents and step-mother, her brother Robert, her father- and mother-in law, Raymond Sr. and Ina. She will be greatly missed by her husband Raymond, four children and spouses: Scott (Nancy), Des Moines, Iowa; Jan (Dave), Melbourne Beach, Florida; Marc (Jacki), Sioux Rapids; and Kevin (Juli), Batavia, Illinois; four grandchildren: Allison (Dave) and great-granddaughter, Katerina, Iowa City, Iowa; Emily, Ames; and Lizzie and Katie, Batavia, Illinois; sister-in-law Zoe Peterson and two nephews, David (Audrey) with their children Jackie (Ross) and Chris (Kyle); and Dana (Julie), all of Storm Lake, Iowa; sister-in-law Joyce McCabe, Clinton, Iowa; and three nephews and spouses, Ron (Deb), Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; Kelly (Tessie), Flagstaff, Arizona; Bruce (Kathy) and great-nephews Michael and Dan, all of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Services for Yvonne Elizabeth (Petersen) Bertness, 87, who died Sunday, October 19, 2008, at the Sioux Care Center, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 26th, at First Lutheran Church, Sioux Rapids. Interment will be at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids.
Visitation will be held 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25th at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids, where family will be present from 6:00 – 7:00.
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