Frances Bertsch

A Funeral Service for Frances Mae Bertsch, 90, of Baker, will be held at 11:00 a. m. , Tuesday, April 23, 2013, First Baptist Church in Baker with Pastor Levi Durfey officiating. Burial will follow in the Bonnievale Cemetary. Visitation for Frances Mae will be 4:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. , Monday, April 22, 2013 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker with Family receiving Friends from 5:00 p. m. to 7:00 p. m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the First Baptist Church. Frances Mae Gunderson was born October 2, 1922 in Fallon County, the daughter of Gunder and Mae (Everson) Gunderson. She was raised on the family farm south of Baker where she helped with the family dairy business. She was educated in Baker graduating from Baker High School in 1940. Frances Mae was united in marriage to Theodore “Ted” Bertsch on July 20, 1941 in Baker. To this union four daughters were born, Bonnie, Betty, Bev and Teddie. Following their marriage Ted was enlisted in the US Army serving in WWll stationed in New York. Frances Mae traveled with Ted to New York and while he was deployed she kept busy working in the textile mill. Upon returning from serving in WWll Ted and Frances Mae returned to Baker taking over the Bertsch family farm. In 1956 Ted and Frances Mae moved to their new home they had built in Baker where she resided until 2007 when she moved into the Parkview Retirement Complex. Frances Mae was known for her wonderful cooking and baking skills, she was privileged to bake for many businesses’ Christmas parties and other functions producing wonderful donuts, pies, dinner rolls and her famous angel food cakes from scratch. In 1967 Frances Mae began working for the Baker School System as a cook for the hot lunch program taking over as head cook in the mid 80’s until her retirement in 1998. Frances Mae had a gift for making every child who came through the lunch line feel like they were the most special person she had ever met. Many of those continued to stop and visit her even after her retirement. During her time at Parkview Retirement Complex Frances Mae enjoyed the company of her neighbors and friends as they would spend hours putting puzzles together. In September of 2012 Frances Mae was honored by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a surprise 90th birthday party. Frances Mae was a member of the First Baptist Church serving as pianist for many years as well as being very active in the Mission Circle and Ladies Groups. Frances Mae was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Adventurers Homemaker Group. Frances Mae loved the Lord with all her heart accepting Him as her personal Savior at an early age, she lived her life in a way that portrayed the love of God to everyone she encountered, always giving a hug, an encouraging word and leaving a legacy of love and compassion for all mankind. Frances Mae was a devoted prayer warrior for her family and her church. Frances Mae is survived by her daughters: Bonnie (Ray) Allerdings, Betty (Milbert) Allerdings and Teddie (Stan) Brannin, all of Dickinson, ND, and Bev (Jerry) Schell of Baker, MT; ten grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren: Kendall (Michelle) Allerdings and their children, Marcail, Makena, and Kaden, Brian (Michele) Allerdings and their children, Hunter and Brooklyn, Sheryl Driscoll, Sheila (Jason) Dutke and their children, Abbey and Emily, Shandra (Scott) Henrichs and their daughter, Madison, Missy (Bobby) Thielen and their children, Whitney, Wyatt and Wiley, Amber (Mark) Lawlar and their children, Sydnee and Kenzie, Ramie (Charlie) Zahl and their children, Hadley and Camden, Cassidy (Chad) Lexcen and their children Harper and Asher, and Tanner Brannin and his son Sylas; sister-in-laws; Carol Gunderson, Nita Hall, Esther Wassink, Lydia Bertsch, Janice Spiser and Adeline Bertsch ; and brother-in-law, Karl Bertsch. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, parents, grandparents, brothers, sister and foster-sisters.


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Burial Date: April 23, 2013
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral: Tuesday, First Baptist Church, Baker, MT