Bertha Smith, long-time Fowler resident, died at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin, Minn., on April 20, 2008.

She was born Bertha Stjernholm on March 12,1914, the second of nine children, at the family home south of Fowler to Rasmus and Kirstine Stjernholm. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Fowler. Mrs. Smith attended Fowler schools graduating Valedictorian of her class in 1932.

After attending Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she obtained her two-year teaching degree. Later she attended Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., graduating in May 1966 with her full four-year teaching degree. She taught school at Nepesta, Colo., Rocky Ford, Colo., and seventeen years for Fowler School District teaching 1st and 5th grades.

Bertha married her high school sweetheart, Grady Smith, September 8, 1940 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fowler. Together they farmed the Stauder place below the Otero for three years, the Garner farm east of Fowler for seven years and then purchased their own farm two miles west of Fowler on Hwy 50 on January 17, 1950. Bertha and Grady raised their six children Thomas (1941), Mary Beth (1944), Katherine (1947), Joanne (1949), Kirstine (1951), and Gail (1954) on the family farm and provided for each of them to go to college.

Mrs. Smith was active in the Fowler community especially helping with her church, choir, Number Six Club, Unity Club, Women’s Club, 4-H, and the Missouri Day art show. Her love for music was especially important in her life and the life of her family. She enjoyed baking Danish pastry, cooking, sewing clothing for herself and her children and gardening. She loved having friends and family for dinners, birthdays and other special occasions.
In 1987 Mr. and Mrs. Smith sold their farm and moved to 4 La Huerta, Pueblo, Colo. They lived there and became active members of King of Kings Lutheran Church. Mr. Smith passed away September 21, 1998. Following his death Bertha resided at the Alterra Assisted Living Residency and the Life Care Center in Pueblo until 2006 when she moved to St. Mark’s Lutheran Home where she resided until her death.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her children, Dr. Thomas R. (Karen) Smith, Pueblo, five daughters, Mary Beth (William) Asselin, Clovis, Calif.; Katherine (Wayne) Hahn,Paxton, Neb.; Joanne (Stanley) Rasmussen, Austin, Minn.; Kirstine (Rick) Mitchell, Osan AFB, South Korea; and Gail (Brian) Anderson, Berthoud, Colo. Fourteen grandchildren survive her: Dr. Paul Smith, Monument, Colo.; Greg Smith, Woodlands Park, Colo.; Daniel Smith, New York City, New York; Heather Asselin, Houston, Texas; Stewart Asselin, Clovis, Calif.; Dr. Michelle Asselin, Fresno, Calif.; Michael Hahn, Lincoln, Neb; Stephanie Hahn (Paxton, NE), Matt Hahn (Lincoln, NE), Brenda Zahn (Las Vegas, NV), Doug Rasmussen, Madison, Wis.; Patrick Anderson, Littleton, Colo.; Kevin Anderson, Westminster, Colo., and Ryan Anderson, Greeley, Colo. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Thomas Stjernholm, Pueblo and Westminster, Colo. and sister, Kirstine Stjernholm, Pueblo, Colo.
Also surviving is eleven great-grandchildren; Annika, Svea and Ella Smith, Julianna Smith, Gus, Ellie and Zoe Valega, Kjirsten and Ainsley Zahn, Ian and Amelia Smith.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Grady Smith, grandson, David Smith, parents, Rasmus and Kirstine Stjernholm, brothers, Christian, Richard and Jack Stjernholm, and sisters, Else Hazlett, Edith Kimble and Elise Stjernholm.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 26 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fowler, Colo. Interment will be at Fowler Cemetery followed by a luncheon in the church fellowship hall.

Griffy Family Funeral Home in Fowler is in charge of arrangements.