Bertha L. Hostetler

Bertha L. (Collins) Hostetler arrived in the middle of one of the worst snowstorms in the year 1927. She was born on January 23, 1927, to Lewis C. and Alta Bryant Collins. She was blessed to have two grandmas who were influential in her life, Mary L. Bryant and Bertha M. Collins. Bertha went home to be with her Lord and savior on Saturday, November 22, 2025. She was 98 years of age.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, in the Billings First Baptist Church with Pastor Floyd Westfall officiating. Interment will follow in the Billings Union cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, November 24, 2025, in the Brown Dugger funeral home in Billings, with the family in attendance from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Bertha initially attended elementary school in Groveton, Texas and later moved to Garber. Bertha's younger brother, Bob,whom she loved very much, was born there. While attending Garber High School, the bombing of Pearl Harbor took place. Bertha recalled, "This was the beginning of me becoming a very patriotic person. Young men who I knew were leaving school to protect our country. Some were taken prisoner and never returned, and some returned severely wounded." During this time, Bertha helped at the local telephone switchboard office. She graduated in 1944 and went to work for the local John Deere Dealer, Lloyd L. Long for the next three years. Mr. Long was head of American Red Cross and several crisis service personnel during this time. Bertha met her husband, Ivan "Dusty" Hostetler when he came in to purchase parts at the John Deere store in Garber. They later married in 1947 and moved to the farm near Billings, OK. To this union came two children, a daughter Becky, and a son Brady. She and Dusty were married for 69 year until his passing in 2016. Bertha worked for the Billings Public Schools as secretary-treasurer for 20 years where she met and became friends with many young people. She eagerly helped with 4-H groups, the FFA organization, and the athletic programs, where she became a second mother to many. Bertha later went to work for the local grain elevator, which was then called the Billings Community Elevator, and she retired in 2009 after 36 years of service. Bertha was an active member of the Billings First Baptist Church teaching Sunday school and playing the piano for 77 years. She also took great pride in her many activities with the "Willing Workers" Sunday School class.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are her son, Brady and wife Mendy of Billings, OK , grandchildren, Karli Jeffries and husband, Tyler of Blackwell, OK, grandson Kellan Hostetler of Billings, OK, and great grandchildren, Jack Jeffries, Ladd Jeffries, and Jaci Kate Jeffries. Bertha is also survived by a very special family friend, Ernie Martinez.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dusty Hostetler, daughter Becky Hostetler, and brother Bob Adams.

Online guest registry is available; at www.brown-duggerfuneralhome.com