Bertha Turnquist

Bertha Turnquist, 98, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Aldersgate Church, with Pastor Mike Waldrop officiating. Visitation will be held one hour before the service beginning at 12:00 p.m.  The service will be live streamed at www.Carlsenfh.com under Bertha's obituary.

A time of fellowship and refreshments will follow the service at the church hall.

Burial will be at Wayside Cemetery, Frederick, SD. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to North Brown County Community Foundation. 

Bertha Orth was born August 28, 1925, to Fred and Martha (Fried) Orth near Artas, SD. She attended school in that area and later Aberdeen School of Commerce Business College in Aberdeen, SD. She was employed by Grenz General Store in Artas, SD, before moving to Aberdeen, where she was employed by the Aberdeen American News business office for eight years.

Bertha married Dean Turnquist on March 2, 1963, at the First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, SD. They lived together on a ranch near Frederick, SD, until June of 1998, when they moved to Aberdeen. In 2015, Bertha moved to Bethesda Town Square to be near her husband, who was a resident at Bethesda Home Center. Bertha and Dean shared 53 years of marriage until his passing in 2016.

While on the farm, she was active in her church Frederick United Methodist Church, where she was organist for 55 years. Bertha was a member of the UMW where she held all offices. She was a member of the Brown County Extension Homemakers Club for almost 40 years. Bertha also served as Township Treasurer for several years.

Bertha enjoyed meeting with friends and neighbors and hosting Bible Study groups weekly. Even though Bertha and Dean were not blessed with children of their own, their nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews enjoyed the time spent with their Aunt Bert and Uncle Dean on the farm or in Aberdeen. Bertha will be greatly missed by her friends and family but are overjoyed to know that she has gone home to be with the Lord.

Bertha’s survivors include one sister, Olinda (Orth) Kirschenmann of Eureka, SD; one sister-in-law, Bertha Wanner of Eureka, SD; and many nieces and nephews along with great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Fred and Martha; three sisters, Ida (Orth) Bauer, Selma (Orth) Bauer, and Martha Orth in infancy; five brothers, Ruben, Jake, Ray, Ervin, and Leslie Orth.

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