Bertha Trager

Bertha Trager, 95, of Meservey, passed away peacefully Monday, March 15, 2021 at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond

Funeral Services for Bertha Trager will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the First Reformed Church, 620 2^nd Street in Meservey with Rev. Rodney Meester officiating. Burial will be in the Meservey Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday, March 25, 2021.

Bertha Trager was born on October 13, 1925 to Tony and Bernadine Boelman. Her mother died in childbirth, so her aunt Minnie and uncle Henry Dirks raised her on a farm near Meservey. Her six siblings, the oldest being eleven at the time, lived with their father. She attended country school through the 8th grade, and then stayed home to help on the farm. Bertha married Elmer Trager in 1944 where they lived on a farm near Meservey. They welcomed their first and only son, Wayne, in 1953. During this time, Bertha was a full-time farm wife and mother. Later she went to work at Alexander Hensel Brothers Produce in Alexander, the Great West Lamp Factory in Forest City, and finally at Winnebago Industries in Forest City, retiring from there in 1993 after dedicating 17 years to the company. After retiring, she occasionally worked at the Stockman's Cafe in Garner and later at the Chit Chat Cafe in Thornton, earning a little "fun money". Bertha moved from the country to her home in Meservey in 1994. She enjoyed going on bus trips to different casinos with her friends, having root beer floats with her neighbors, playing solitaire with her morning coffee and putting puzzles together. She especially enjoyed and looked forward to the events that took place each year during Meservey's annual 4th of July celebration.

Bertha moved to the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond in January of 2018 and resided there until her death. She really liked living at the rehab center where she could socialize and participate in many of the activities until the pandemic isolated her to her room. Bertha will be remembered by her grandchildren for her amazing homemade cookies, freezer jam, trips to go play bingo, and NEVER missing her Thursday appointments to get her hair done. She loved her family and was a generous mother and grandmother. Bertha will be remembered by all for her straightforwardness, dry sense of humor, and immeasurable independence.

Bertha is survived by her son, Wayne (Val) Trager of Bird Island, MN; her three grandchildren: Eric Keyser of Sacred Heart, MN, Matt (Brooke) Trager of Bird Island, MN, and Chelsey Trager of Sacred Heart, MN; her three great grandchildren: Bennett Grabow of Renville, MN, Hunter Malvin and Zane Trager of Bird Island, MN; and one great great granddaughter: Vera Grabow of Renville, MN.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and six siblings: brothers Henry, Roy, Aeiko, and Harvey Boelman; sisters Tena Dirks and Grace Smith.