Mareda "Reda" Bertelson

Mareda “Reda” Kaye Bertelson

September 13, 1949 – November 21, 2024

Mareda “Reda” Kaye (Rauk) Bertelson passed away on November 21, 2024, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD, following a courageous 13-year battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). True to Reda, she departed this life as she entered it—on her own terms. Born on September 13, 1949, in Luverne, MN, to Edward and Elizabeth (Keehr) Rauk, she arrived weighing 1 lb. 14 oz. and was promptly transferred to McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. There, she was baptized out of concern for her fragile state, but Reda defied the odds and survived. She was brought home nestled in a shoebox on her mother’s lap, dressed in doll clothes, a testament to her resilience from the very beginning.

Reda grew up in Beaver Creek, MN, as the second oldest of four siblings. At 3 years old, she received her first pair of trifocal glasses, which became a defining accessory throughout her life. She was confirmed at First Presbyterian Church of Beaver Creek, and attended Hills-Beaver Creek School, graduating in 1967.  Reda went on to study office administration at Nettleton College. During these years, she met Greg Mertz, a Naval veteran, and the two married on February 23, 1973. They welcomed their son, James (Jim) Edward Mertz, in September 1974. Jim inherited his father’s recessive balding gene and his mother’s love for bowling. In the 1970s, Reda worked as a CNA at Sioux Falls Center, Luther Manor and Mom & Dad’s Care Center, and in accounts receivable at Polar Cold Storage. Reda and Greg divorced in 1979.

As a single mother, Reda demonstrated her resilience, once again, by obtaining her driver’s license at the age of 30, mastering the unique skill of braking with her left foot in her trusty old station wagon (a technique best left untried by others).  During these years, Reda worked as a CNA at Covington Nursing Home in Sioux Falls. Reda’s charm and dancing skills soon caught the eye of a young man from Humboldt named Keith. Their connection blossomed, and in 1980, they began dating. Her steady influence helped to bring balance to Keith’s adventurous ways and guide him toward a more domesticated life. On June 6, 1981, they were married at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt, SD, beginning their life together as a family of three.

Their household grew livelier with the arrival of Jerald (Jerry) Robert Bertelson in September of 1983. Jerry inherited his mother’s love language of gift-giving and his father’s recessive mechanical skills. In the early 1980s, Reda discovered her vocational passion—baking. She began her career as a baker first at Hy-Vee Foods, later transitioning to Jubilee Foods in Hartford, SD, after the family moved there in 1994. She drove to work every weekday for years at 2 am to “proof the donuts” in her “relatively” reliable Gray Dodge Caravan, affectionately dubbed the “Hy-Vee Am-Van.” 

Although Reda enjoyed living and working in Hartford, she often found herself drawn back to the city for her favorite pastime—shopping. In 2000, the family relocated to Sioux Falls, bringing her closer to her favorite stores: Lane Bryant, K-Mart, Shopko, and Kohl’s.

Through every move, Reda’s passions remained steadfast: collecting souvenir handbells, adding to her ever-growing collection of cookbooks, and delighting in her favorite magazines, including People, The Pioneer Woman, Reader’s Digest, and Midwest Living.

After settling back in Sioux Falls, Reda continued her baking career at The Cookie Cutter, transitioned to the Walmart bakery, and ultimately concluded her working years at the Sioux Falls School District’s central kitchen. She retired at 62, shortly after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Though MS brought its share of challenges, she didn’t let it overshadow her identity, choosing instead to be known by the names that mattered most: “Reda,” “Rede,” “Sister,” “Ma,” and “Grandma,” each reflecting a cherished role in her life.

She was a dedicated wife to Keith, otherwise known to her as “Bert,” her converted soap-opera-watching partner and Cracker Barrel supper companion. She was a permissive yet present, caring mother to Jim, otherwise known to her as “Brave Solider,” and Jerry, otherwise known to her as “My Little Sweetheart Buddy,” and she insisted that they “pick her up a t-shirt” whenever they went on vacation. She cherished a very-close sisterhood with her shopping partner, confidant, and friend, Roxie, affectionately called “My Ol’ Sister.” She held dear the friendships with Kathy, fondly known as “Mrs. P,” and Linda, Carolyn, Geri, and many others with whom she journeyed through the seasons of life and aging.  To know her was to be nicknamed.  Reda embraced the role of nickname teacher to her daughter-in-law, Tami, opting simply to call her “T.” In Reda’s later months, “T” also became her nurse-on-demand.

Reda also was a table-scrap-sharing, chocolate-giving-when-you’re-not-supposed-to dog mom to Muffy, Hunter, TJ, and Lola. She was an eternally hopeful Vikings fan, a passion she shared with Pam and Amanda. But above all, Reda treasured her title as “Grandma,” a role that filled her later years with immense joy. She adored her grandchildren—Jayden, Kavan, Alina, Clara, Kennedy, Brynley, and Cohen—and could never take enough pictures with them, and never tired of telling Keith to give them some cash.

Reda was given another name when she was just 26 weeks old—beloved child of God. It was a name she spent her life learning to live into. Now, that name is spoken to her face-to-face by the One who gave it to her. And perhaps, if there is a café in that eternal paradise, you can imagine Reda placing her usual order: a Diet Coke (light on the ice), a 6 oz sirloin (WELL done), a side salad with french and ranch on the side, and white toast (dry) with grape jelly.

Those who had the privilege of walking life’s road with Reda—and who are now left behind to sort through her collection of purses and QVC purchases—includes her husband, Keith; her sons, Jim Mertz and Jerry (Tami) Bertelson; her sister, Roxie Rauk; her grandchildren, Jayden Houser-Mertz, Kavan Mertz, Alina, Clara, and Kennedy Bertelson; her great-grandchildren, Brynley and Cohen Gehrke; her in-laws, Pam (Lyle) Twedt, Marlys Rauk, Mary Rauk, Gary Bertelson, and Craig Bertelson; her nephews, Jason Rauk, Chad (Tami) Rauk, and Ryan Rauk; her nieces, Linnea (Brandon) Cooper and Amanda (Joe) Painter; and many great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as numerous extended family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and bakery customers.

Those who Reda joined on the other side of the Jordan include her father and mother, Edward and Betty Rauk; her brothers, Ron Rauk and Rick Rauk; her father-in-law, Robert Bertelson, and mother-in-law, Florence Bertelson; her sister-in-law, Bev Hoernemann; her first husband, Greg Mertz; and her dear friends, Allen Croat and Geri Puthoff.

And above all, she is in the loving presence of Jesus, whom we will one day join with her at the resurrection. On that day, look for a woman wearing New Balance shoes, stoned-washed denim jeans, a tiny analog watch, and a gray sweatshirt embroidered with a puppy dog. Wave her over. She’ll see you clearly and walk on over.

Reda’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the newest member of the Bertelson family, her primary caregiver these past four years, Heidi. You selflessly cared for mom through the most challenging days of her life with grace, love, and compassion. Mom cherished you deeply. Thank you.

The family also wishes to thank the many others who cared for mom over the years, including her twin-like sister, Roxie, who always made sure mom had her scratch tickets, and who spent nearly every Black Friday chasing deals with her—including the year she, mom, and Jerry stood in line at Lewis for 90 minutes starting at 5 a.m. to snag 'limited edition' Beanie Babies, and including her dear friend Kathy, who, while her husband was still in surgery, stepped out of the hospital to ensure mom’s transfer to Ava's House went smoothly; to her other caregivers, Brittany, Kass, Abbey, and Tracy; and to the staff at Sioux Falls Village, Wakonda Nursing Home, Sanford Health, Dr. Doorn, Dr. Freeman, Ava’s House, and many others. Thank you for the ways in which you loved mom through the years.

Finally, Jim and Jerry want to express their deepest gratitude to their dad, Keith, for his devout love and care for their mother. Thank you for fetching her purse on demand, listening (or pretending to listen) when she called out “Beeeert,” treating her to Hy-Chi and Dairy Queen more often than not, taking her to church, pushing (or pulling) her up and down the ramp at home too many times to count, wrapping presents she bought when her hands failed her, attending concerts with her, and making sure she made it to as many grandkids’ events as possible. Above all, thank you for honoring your vow to love mom “in sickness and in health.” You fulfilled that vow with stalwart love and unwavering loyalty. Thank you, Dad.

And if mom could tell us one thing today, I think she would say what she often said, “Be Brave.”