Bertha Besel

Bertha Besel, 100, of Mountain Lake, MN died Monday, May 9, 2011 at Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake. Bertha (Kunkel) Besel daughter of Julius and Paulina (Zimmer) Kunkel was born in Wolinia, Russia on December 8, 1910. In 1914 she came to the United States with her family and settled in the Mountain Lake, Minnesota area. She received her education in a country school in rural Mountain Lake. Bertha was baptized in Russia and confirmed May 16, 1926 in the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kimball Township by Rev. John Porisch. Bertha was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake. On August 15, 1937, Bertha was united in marriage to August Besel in Mankato, Minnesota. After their marriage they made their home in Mountain Lake. They were the parents of three children: Dorothy Ruth (Besel) Boman, Walter Paul Besel and Gladys Elaine (Besel) Luebke. August passed away on August 24, 1988, aged 89 years. Prior to Bertha's marriage she worked in Mankato for several years. Returning to Mountain Lake she was a mother to many teachers residing at the Besel home over a period of 26 years. In later years Bertha worked as a cook for the Mountain Lake Public School for seventeen years. Bertha enjoyed gardening, crocheting, cooking and her family, children, grandchildren, great grand children and one great great grandchild. (A second great great grandchild due in June). Bertha is survived by three sisters: Hertha Holland (St. James, MN), Augusta Heintzelman, (Springfield, MO.,) Laura Blanshan (Ortonville, MN); her children: Dorothy Boman, Brooklyn Center, MN., Walter (Vida) Besel, Palm Desert, CA., Gladys Luebke, Fort Dodge, Ia. Other survivors include her grandchildren: Jon (Julie) Boman, Brooklyn Park, MN, Lisa (David) Tarara, Shakopee, MN, Michelle (Keith) Regnier, Maple Grove, MN.,Linda Luebke, Fort Dodge, Ia., Paul Luebke, Portland OR., and Christine Besel, Santa Monica, CA; great-grandchildren: Kathryn and Michael Boman, Brooklyn Park, MN., Ashley (Bob) Kantorowicz, Blaine, MN, Emily and August Regnier, Maple Grove;and one step great-grandson, Sam Tarara, Shakopee, MN., one great-great grandson, Andrew Kantorowicz, Blaine, MN., and two step great-great grandchildren: Samantha and Danielle Kantorowicz, (Blaine, MN). Bertha was preceded in death by husband August, parents Julius and Paulina Kunkel. Five sisters: Amelia Kunkel, Martha Enns, Amanda Heffele, Alvina Holland and Helen Hanson. Seven brothers: Gottfried, Arthur, Christian, August, Leonard, Bernhart and Herbert and one son-in-law: Erwin E. Luebke.