Bernetta Elaine Alt

Bernetta Elaine Alt born June 9, 1939 left this world on Aug. 13, 2025. She was 86 years old. She was born to Jesse Ray and Edna (Brunker) Axtel in Hill Rose, CO. She attended schools in Washington County receiving her high school diploma from Akron High. She married her high school sweetheart, Delane Dan Alt in Sept. 13, 1958. They had three children. Bert lived in Akron until her welcoming to heaven.

She barely stood five-foot high and, in the end, tipped the scales far less than triple digits. Knees tucked under her elbows, her hands ever in motion from the ravages of Parkinson's, Bernetta "Bert" Alt was nonetheless the family matriarch until the end.

The end came Wednesday, in the early hours, while the stars filled the night sky and the leaves rustled in the breeze. It was appropriate for Bert, now more than eight and a half decades. For many years of her life, her day started long before the sun peaked over the horizon. She, along with husband Dan, her high school sweetheart, would drive the 30-some miles into Akron, CO. They would flip on their smallish café's lights and begin the daily tasks of sweet rolls and cornbread, coffee and farm fresh eggs to dozens of northeastern Colorado farmers and ranchers who, like the pair, were awake shortly thereafter.

They balanced this with their own ranch of thousands of acres. There, they fed cattle and chickens, penned a few hogs, and raised three children. The two sons remained, working the family land or that of their neighbors. The daughter married and moved, raising a family of her own. Using the lessons of hard work and dedication from her mother's example.

Life can be hard on the Colorado plains. Brutal winters, predators from bear to wolves, drought to flood. The elements raise people hard, passionate, God-loving and giving. Ranchers are connected through shared experiences.

They appreciate what they are provided. They question why others would choose any other life.

Bert was like that, yet so open to so much more. As time went by and economics made small business ownership more tenuous, she went to work in a local grocery restaurant. There, the magic she was known for in her Diner transferred to the store. People drove miles to enjoy her home-cooked breakfasts and lunches, to listen to her stories, to share a tale.

Last year, after more than six decades of working the ranch, giving to their community, raising their children, Dan and Bert were asked to be the county fair's Parade Marshals. Humbled by the request, health issues negated their participation. We wish it would have been different. We wish she could have had her goodbye.

Her ranch, her husband, her children defined her. While others would share small talk, Bert would talk about her family. Each visit concluding with a hug, or a kiss and a never-missed "I love you."

In the last years, Bert retreated to a recliner and then to a hospital bed. Her body shrank but her eyes remained vivid, alive, all-seeing. Her Parkinson's was exacerbated by diabetes. Her diabetes exacerbated by dementia. Pain was her daily companion. Frustration seething beneath the terror.

Wednesday in the early a.m., as her family attempted to catch minutes of sleep after days of pilgrimage to her hospital, Bert was lifted from her pain for good. Her family remains strong.

Hurt, mournful, with tear-filled eyes, they know her last thoughts were of them. And know, as she squeezed her daughter's hand, she was saying "I love you" one last time.

Bernetta is preceded in death by her parents Jesse and Edna Axtell, siblings Wilbur Jesse Axtel, Eileen Highland, Melvin Axtel, Elma Fincher and Dorothy Edkins.

Bernetta is survived by her husband Danny of Akron, CO. Three children, Jodi Smith and Brian Bloom of Wichita, KS, Greg Alt and Dollie Gonzales of Akron, CO., Kirk Alt of Woodrow, CO, Two sisters, Joyce Durns and Edna Gebauer of Mesa, Arizona.

12 grandchildren 13 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

Danielle and James daughter Ava. Craig and Mandy son Maverick.

Ashlee and Jesse their children Harlee, Hayden, Mia, Noah, Kayte and Devin their daughter Myla. Blake and Megan. Luke. Their mother Diana.

Jenn and Ryan their children Ella, Ayden, Everly.

Kyle, Michael, daughter Audrey, Dustin and Paige.

We are planning a special gathering to celebrate the life of Bernetta, and we will announce the date and time once arrangements are complete.