Bertha Christopher

            Bertha Christopher, 87, Breckenridge, MN passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge, MN.  Funeral services will be on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Breckenridge, MN with Father Kenneth Popp officiating.  Visitation will be on Thursday, November 20, 2008 from 5 pm to 8 pm with a prayer service at 7 PM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Breckenridge, MN.  There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, MN.  Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Breckenridge, MN.

            Bertha was born April 15, 1921 at Grafton, ND to John and Mary (Fink) Olmstead.  She grew up and attended school through the second grade north of Minto, ND.  The family then moved to Ardoch, ND where she went through the seventh grade until moving to Grand Forks, ND where she graduated from St. John’s Academy.

            Bertha married Wendell Christopher on June 3rd, 1941 at St. Mary’s Church in Grand Forks and they continued to live there.  In 1954, they moved to their farm southeast of Breckenridge, MN.

            Bertha enjoyed dancing, gardening, quilting, sewing, baking, and playing cards.  She especially enjoyed spending time with her children, grandkids and great-grandkids.

            Bertha is survived by     her eleven children, Marlys (Rodger) Haugen, Grand Forks, ND, Raymond (Josie) Christopher, Blaine, MN, Ronald (Laura) Christopher, Las Vegas, NV, Dennis (Diane) Christopher, Maple Grove, MN, Donald Christopher, Minneapolis, MN, Kenneth (Margie) Christopher, Horace, ND, Timothy (Beverly) Christopher, Breckenridge, MN, Barbara (Roger) Christopher-Holt, Jefferson, SD, David Christopher, Wahpeton, ND, Richard (Cheryl) Christopher, Breckenridge, MN, Gregory Christopher, Breckenridge, MN; her twenty-six grandchildren; her twenty great-grandchildren; her brother, Francis Olmstead; her sister, Margaret Bachmeier.

            She was preceded in death by   her parents, John and Mary Olmstead; her husband, Wendell Christopher; her brothers and sisters, John, Henry, Susanna, Leo, Bertha, Walter, Irene Olmstead and Mary Fink.