Berthie Bigelow

Funeral Services: Will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery. Pastor Steven Broers will officiate the service. A luncheon will be held at the church following the burial.  

Open Visitation: Will be held on Friday, November 14th, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Friday evening at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Memorials: To the Berthie Bigelow memorial fund to be established at a later date.

Berthie Louise Bigelow joined her heavenly father on November 11, 2014 at home surrounded by her loving family.

Berthie was born on May 30, 1922 in Summerset Township, Adair County Iowa, the middle daughter of Oscar and Emma (Baudler) Gross.

Berthie grew up on her family farm and the adjoining Gross Cabin Park.

She was baptized on June 25, 1922 and confirmed on May 16, 1937 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle and remained a steadfast faithful member.

On March 28, 1948, Easter Sunday, Berthie was united in marriage to Robert Bigelow. In 1950, they moved to the home place where she was residing. From this union 8 children were born – Rose, Twin boys Max and Rex (deceased at birth), Lester, Paul, Daisy, Iris and Kirk.

As a child Berthie enjoyed helping with the farm and the family cabin park. She learned to play tennis and shuffle board. She watched and interacted with the patrons that came and went. Berthie taught Sunday school and helped with many church committees and projects. Some of her most beloved church contributions were keeping the church bell chiming and the Christmas star tradition going with the assistance of her loving children. Berthie adored woodworking, gardening and sewing. She would stay up all hours of the night making matching outfits for her daughters and lots of times even sons, nieces and nephews. She worked 15 years at the Adair County Memorial Hospital in the laundry department. After semi-retirement, Berthie and Robert cherished traveling for the winters to stay with their youngest son Kirk in Florida and then in Texas for 2 or 3 months of the year. After the loss of her beloved husband Robert and no longer driving, her family attended to her every need with Iris being her daily visitor. Berthie loved her family and drew amazing strength from her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Berthie is survived by children - Rose Dory and husband Harold, Lester and wife Mary Kathryn, Paul and wife Raedeen, Daisy Antisdel and husband Richard, Iris Westphal and husband Pat, and Kirk; grandchildren – Hunter Dory, Troy Bigelow (Joann), Gwen Oswald (Kevin), Jake Bigelow (Crystal), Jennie Anderson (Jason), Aaron Bigelow (Heather), Kody Bigelow (Lacey), Clover McHargue (Kevin), Addie Antisdel and Courtnee Ford (Dallas); sisters Darlene Herr (Gilbert) and Violet Erbes; brother-in-law Don Peterson (Virginia); sisters-in-law Neva Robinson (Kenny) and Jeanette Peterson, and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, twin sons Max and Rex, one grandson Jarod Westphal, nephew Ronald Herr, brothers-in-law Eldon Erbes and George Peterson, and foster sisters Mildred Pickrell and Doris Kirschbaum.