Bertha Kasten

Bertha Kasten, 109, died December 19, 2010 at home.

Bertha (Fryda) Kasten, the youngest of six children was born in Springfield, SD on March 1, 1901 to Bohemian immigrants, Frank and Anna Fryda. Her childhood was spent in Springfield. After completing 8th grade, Bertha received her State Teaching Certificate and taught at a rural one-room country school near Dante, SD.

Bertha married Fred King in 1917. Fred and their infant daughter, Viola, died from the influenza epidemic in 1918.

In 1919, Bertha married Henry Zerbe. They resided in Dolton, SD where Henry operated a garage. In 1920 they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Ethel. In 1938, they moved to Bridgewater, SD where they opened a garage on the new Highway 16. After selling the business in 1939, they lived in Scotland, SD and Avon, SD over the next 3 years and returned to Bridgewater in 1942.

After Henry's death in 1952, Bertha worked for Inhofer's Bakery in Bridgewater until 1955.

Bertha married Jim Pringle in 1955. Jim farmed north of Bridgewater. During these years Bertha was a homemaker and active in the First Presbyterian Church, the American Legion Auxiliary and Extension Club. Jim died in 1971.

In 1973, Bertha married August Kasten and moved to his farm near Parker, SD. When Augie died in 1974, Bertha returned to Bridgewater where she lived with her daughter, Ethel. Bertha enjoyed her walks to the Bakery, the Wildcat Inn, and especially socializing and playing Bingo at Senior Citizens.

Bertha passed away at her granddaughter's home where she had lived since February 2007.

Bertha was our family's foundation. A woman of few words, we learned from the example she showed us each and every day that with strong faith and determination we can endure the hardships and losses in our lives.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, daughters and siblings.

Cherishing her memory are her granddaughters, Dee Ann (John) Alvarez of Bridgewater SD and Gay Jean (Marvin) Fluth of Lewistown, MT, her great-grandchildren Trevor Alvarez of Sioux Falls, SD, Kia (Jay) Tonneslan of Sumner, WA and Kip Fluth of Las Vegas, NV, along with her nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Thursday Dec. 23 at First Presbyterian Church in Bridgewater at 10:30 am with burial following in the Bridgewater City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 pm on Wednesday at the Walter Funeral Chapel in Bridgewater.

Published in the Argus Leader Newspaper