Berdina Mae (Morris) Ward 1917-2008

WARD, MORRIS, GEARHART, REED, JOHNSON, RETH, LEGASSICK

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 10/3/2017 at 08:00:42

Berdina Mae Ward, 90, of Manchester, formerly of Strawberry Point, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008 at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, IA from a brief illness. Services will be 10:30 a .m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 at the United
Methodist Church in Strawberry Point with Rev. Ron Blix officiating. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery in Earlville, IA. Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 4, 2008 at the Roberson Funeral Home in Strawberry Point from 4:00 to 8:00p.m.

Berdina was born February 14, 1917 on a farm near Delhi, IA, the daughter of Bernie and Pearl (Gearhart) Morris. She graduated from Delhi High School in 1935 and received her two-year teaching degree from Lenox College in Hopkinton in 1937. Later she received her four-year degree from Upper Iowa University. Berdina
was a gifted and dedicated teacher who had a wonderful influence on generations of students. She began her 26 year teaching career at
Pleasant Valley, a one-room country school near her parent's home. Then she served as principal and teacher at Earlville and Delaware. She taught for 21 years at the Strawberry Point Elementary School.

Berdina was united in marriage to Ray J. Ward on July 3, 1943. The couple was married almost 65 years. They lived on their farm near Strawberry Point for 57 years.

Berdina is survived by her husband, Ray;
children and their spouses, Russell of
Taylorsville, KY; Diane (Jon) Reed of Marion, IA; Roger (Sue) of Epworth, IA; and Donna (Dave) Johnson of Riceville, IA; seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Eleanor Reth of Postville, and one brother-in-law, Donald LeGassick of
Manchester, and several neices and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Cletus Morris of Delaware and three sisters, Rosella Hinder of Cedar Rapids, Verla Belle LeGassick of Manchester and Evelyn Morris in infancy.

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Thursday, January 3, 2008