Bertha Helene (Fatland) MORTON

FATLAND, MORTON, NELSON, JOHNSON, CHRISTOPHER, RUSSELL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:58

Bertha Fatland Morton
30 September 1883 ---- 3 August 1929

Bertha Helene Fatland was born on a farm near Newark, Ill., on Sept. 30, 1883, where she spent her childhood. She graduated from the Newark high school and from the Lutheran College at Ottawa, Ill., where she also taught for a time. She later attended the State Teachers College at Cedar Falls for two years. She taught school in and around Clarion, Iowa, for several years.

On Sept. 1, 1910 she was united in marriage to Charles A. Morton by Rev. Beeman at the First Baptist church at Waterloo. To this union two children were born, John Alden, age 15, and Herald Dwight, aged 12. Soon after their marriage they moved to Colorado, where they lived until 1915 when they moved to Eagle Grove where they have since lived.

Mrs. Morton has been in failing health for some time, although few people knew of it because of her patient suffering. She has had to absent herself from public service for several months past. It was finally decided that she must submit to an operation in an effort to save her life. She was taken to the Iowa Methodist hospital in Des Moines on Thursday, Aug. 1, and placed in care of the best surgeon that could be found. She was operated on August 2nd and passed away on the afternoon of August 3, 1929, at the age of 45 years, 10 months, and three days.

From her earliest childhood she has been a Christian and all her life she has been active in church work, teaching in, the Sunday, school and otherwise using her talents to promote knowledge and interest in the Kingdom of Christ. It is difficult to do justice to her ability and character. She was exceptional in both. She had an ability which was the result of years of careful training. When she was responsible for a program, people always knew, that it would be good and well rendered. No one was ever disappointed in their expectations. As a Christian, she was very true and constant. She will be missed by the pastor of the church because of the help and encouragement she was to him. Her nods of approval, her kind words of appreciation and above all her character were such as to make any preacher of the Word want to do his best at all times. She, with the calmness of all good Christians, was resigned to any fate which should overtake her. The last conversation which she had with her pastor makes him devoutly thank God for the way Christians die. He has never seen it in others. She was deeply thankful for everything done for her family or for her. On the last afternoon and evening of her life, she gave many expressions of appreciation and gratitude for the flowers sent her and for the many acts of kindness shown her by her friends here.

She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Eagle Grove and also of the Delphian society.

She leaves to mourn her passing, her husband and two sons and the following brothers and sisters: Torkel Fatland of Glendale, Calif.; Mrs. Julia Nelson of Billings, Mont.; Convil Fatland of Seridan, Ill.; Antis Fatland of Gladstone, Oregon; Mrs. Josie Johnson of Hettingter, N.D.; Mrs. Sarah Severson of Newark, Ill.; Conrad Fatland of Mt. Prospect, Ill.; Mrs. Lillian Christopher of Langford, S.D.; Sam Fatland of Eagle Grove; and Mrs. Mary Russell of Des Moines, Iowa.

Funeral services were held in the Methodist church on Tuesday afternoon. The sermon was preached by the pastor, Rev. W. G. Muhleman on the subject, “When the Righteous Shine” and from the text found in Matt. 13:43. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery.

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, August 8, 1929

Source --- Paul Wilde