Class of 1929 Back, l-r: Belle Larson, Alice Hodgin, Ruth Hodgin, George Kentch, Oliver Berg. Middle: Alice Eleeson, Bertha Monson, Maxine Alcott, Prof. Nelson, Carl Peterson, Royal Cosgrove. Front: Ella Waldron, Martha Thietje. For larger view of photo, see Yearbooks

 
Bertha Monson Fields- Brinker 1911-2007

Funeral services for Bertha Brinker, 96, of Chamberlain were held Monday, November 5, 2007 at 10:30 at St. James Catholic Church in Chamberlain with burial in the Reliance Cemetery at Reliance.  Visitation was Sunday November 4th from 3pm to 8pm with a Scripture service at 5pm at the Hickey-Wevik Funeral Chapel in Chamberlain.

As one of 11 children born to Nels and Anna (Mahnke) Monson, Bertha E. Monson was born March 9, 1911 at Reliance.  

She attended school at Reliance where she graduated from Reliance High School in 1929.  She then attended Spearfish Teacher's College and after receiving her teacher's certificate, she taught for two years in Lyman County. 

In February, 1931, Bertha was united in marriage to Charles Fields at Chamberlain, and to this union four daughters were born: Dera, Delora, Wanita and Louise Adell.  

In 1943, Bertha married Jim Donelan and in 1959, she returned to teaching in the elementary school which she did for the next 11 years, retiring in 1970.  She was married to Dewey Brinker in 1962.  

Bertha was active in the development of the Senior Citizens Organization in Chamberlain.  She entered Aurora-Brule Nursing Home in White Lake in 1998 and later that year transferred to Sunset Valley Haven Nursing Home in Chamberlain.

Bertha Passed away on October 30, 2007 at Sanford Mid Dakota Care Center in Chamberlain at the age of 96 years.  She is survived by her four daughters Dera Sly and  husband, Ken of Platte, SD, Delora Loyd of Delta, Colorado, Wanita Turner and  husband, Frank of Olathe, Kansas, and  L. Adell Martin of Riverton, Wyoming; a brother,  Alvin of Yankton, SD; 15 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her three husbands;four sisters: Emma, Clara, Laura and Lillie and six brothers: Bill, Albert, Carl, Fred and Henry, and an infant brother.

Hickey-Wevik Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.