Bertha Pettit

PETTIT MOWER RAYNOR

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/13/2010 at 19:39:53

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Bertha Pettit
By Cecile Herrman and Betty Wehrli

Bertha Bell Pettit, daughter of Thomas and Rosetta Mower Pettit, was born April 30, 1892, in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Bertha married Claude Raynor as a young girl. Children born were: Donald, on January 17, 1910; Theodore Daniel, August 13, 1912; and Margaret Victoria, July 5, 1916. Donald was born in Sioux City; Theodore and Margaret were born in Omaha, Nebraska.

Donald was killed while hitching a ride on a train coming home from school on May 27, 1924.

Theodore had three daughters, Shirley, Patricia and Becky. All live in California.

Margaret married Lester F Cooper on August 19, 1933. Children born were: Robert Lester, Sr, December 28, 1933; Roland Richard, May 12, 1936, both in Sioux City; Cheryl Lee, October 4, 1951, at Kirkland, Washington; Gregory Patrick, March 17, 1954; and Kathy Jean, August 17, 1956, both in Everett, Washington. Margaret and Lester F and family moved to Bothell, Washington, in 1941, where both worked in the shipyards. After the war, Lester F worked in construction for many years. He died on January 1, 1981.

Robert, Sr married Marily Eckman in 1953. Children born to them were: Michael Steven, May 2, 1953; Robert Lester, Jr, December 31, 1954; Robin Lyn, November 5, 1955; and Lester Franklin II, April 28, 1957.

Michael has a son, Jeremy Michael, born August 25, 1977.

Robert, Jr, and Donna Matherson have a son, Robert Lee, born October 1, 1976.

Robin and David Bunn have: Robert Stanley, January 27, 1974; and Tanya Lynn, April 2, 1979.

Roland and Judith Nosek had: James Wilson, February 23, 1969 in Arizona; Roland Richard, December 12, 1970; and Dawn Margaret, November 13, 1971, both in Washington.

Cheryl and Howard E Coates have: Christopher Lee, December 14, 1972; Shaun Eugene, December 14, 1972, born in Seattle; and Jesse Clifton, August 3, 1976, born in Edmonds, Washington.

Kathy and Randle Johnson have: Tammy Lynn, December 14, 1972, born in Seattle, and Victoria, 1970, in Idaho.

Margaret died of cancer on October 16, 1969, in Seattle, Washington.

Bertha divorced Raynor and married Burl Edison Wehrli on May 13, 1920, in Sioux City. Children of this marriage were: Cecile Evelyn, December 23, 1920; Wallace Herman, March 30, 1922; Burl Thomas, October 21, 1929; and Paul Richard, August 16, 1932. All were born in Sioux City, Iowa.

Cecile married Elmer E Herrmann on August 30, 1936, in Sioux City, with one son, Jerry Ernest on November 19, 1937, in Sioux City. Jerry married Judith Ann Bridges and children born were: Debra Kay, on March 21, 1959; Donald Ralph, on December 3, 1961; and Douglas Elmer, on March 20, 1965. Debra and Terrance Parker have a son, Casey Isaac, born July 14, 1983. Donald is married to Stephanie Johnson.

Cecile and Elmer moved to Washington in 1942, settling in Sunnyside, Washington, in 1945. Elmer worked in the shipyards during the war and later for Pacific Power as a heavy equipment operator. He died on August 20, 1964, at Sunnyside.

Cecile worked for a local floral shop for a time, then in 1968 moved to Seattle as a Housemother at Delta Zeta Sorority at the University of Washington. She still holds this position, where her organizing and creative floral abilities help in decorating and running that household.

Wallace and Barbara had a son, Richard, born March of 1945. Wallace was in the United States Navy and died while serving in the South Pacific on March 18, 1945.

Burl Thomas married Betty Lorene Herrmann on October 31, 1952. Their children are: Richard Thomas, born March 22, 1954; Marshann Lorene, June 6, 1956; Roland Travis, June 17, 1958; and Melanie Lynnea, February 16, 1961. All were born in Seattle, Washington.

Richard and Kathleen Ann Smith have a daughter, Kellie Ann, born August 1, 1983.

Marshann and Peter Dice have a daughter, Marlydann Lorene, born June 12, 1982.

Melanie and Tim Aaron Dunn have a son, Shaine Michael, born February 25, 1983.

Burl T attended Smith Villa School in Sioux City before moving to Bothell, Washington, with his parents in 1942. After completion of school he spent four years in the United States Navy aboard the USS Cowell. Burl worked for Soulee Steel for seven years, then went to work in 1958 for General Meats Inc, of Seattle, first as a meat cutter and for the past twelve years as Plant Engineer. He has lived at Alderwood Manor, Washington, for the past twenty-nine years. Burl has a musical family, with son, Roland, being a professional musician.

Paul moved to Washington as a child and attended school in the Everett-Bothell area. At the age of 17, Paul joined the United States Navy for four years, then served seventeen years in the United States Army. Service time was spent in Europe, mainly Germany; Korea; Viet Nam; and stateside in Texas. He married Ignacia Garcia and their two daughters are: Virginia Maria, born July 12, 1971; and Leona Lynn, born March 23, 1974. Both were born at Morton, Washington. Paul worked for a time for the Forest Service at Packwood, but due to a job-related disability he has retired to his property at Rochester, Washington.

Bertha was one of the few ladies, at that time, who could drive an automobile. So when she was not busy with her own children, she kept on the go driving any and all who needed a ride to the doctor or on errands while the husbands were away at work. As a hardworking lady, she raised a huge garden each year and preserved the crops for the winter. Even though times were tough for everyone, any extra food was always given away to someone who needed it more.

Bertha’s mother, Rosetta, lived on the Wehrli property the five years prior to her death. Rosetta did not like being called Grandma and consequently was affectionately called ‘Ma’ by one and all who knew her well.

Bertha died of DDT poisoning on June 24, 1949. She was out spraying her fruit trees and got some of the spray on her skin. Infection set in and it took her life. She is buried at Accasia Cemetery in Seattle, Washington. Her husband, Burl Edison, died April 2, 1981, and is buried at Accasia also.