Bertha Dalke

Bertha Ella Penner was born January 22, 1917 in Litchfield, Nebraska, to Jacob and Helena (Epp) Penner. She was number four of 10 children in the family. Bertha grew up on the family farm and learned homemaking skills that became her trademarks in her own family.

She attended elementary school in School District #31, Henderson, NE, a country school ¾ mile from where they lived and then graduated high school from Henderson, NE. She attended some years of college at both Grace Bible Institute, Omaha, Nebraska, and Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois.

Bertha had a special bond with her little sister, Erna, and cared for her all the time. Bertha was privileged to take piano lessons. She once admitted that when it was about time for kitchen work she would be studiously practicing piano so that her mother would call on someone else to do the work. She said she didn't always score points with her siblings, but her mother really was happy that she was so dedicated to her practicing!

When she was young, Bertha gave her heart and life to Jesus Christ, and served Him all of her days. Her dedication to Christ became a life calling to ministry, as well, when she met her future husband, Herbert Dalke. They met while leading Vacation Bible School together in an area church one summer. Herbert and Bertha were married on June 7, 1945 and were blessed to spend 67 years of marriage together.

Bertha loved to collect and browse through cookbooks and her hobby resulted in all those exceptional, home-cooked meals. Her family had a number of regular requests such as her apple pie, special candies and cookies at Christmas, or one of her ethnic German recipes. She also used this gift in blessing others wherever they lived. It was a real ministry in their churches.

Her children and grandchildren were so blessed to be recipients of her many acts of love. Those many, many care packages she sent for Christmas to all her family as long as she could bake, those many sewing projects and quilts she lovingly made for each family and her special attention to detail of foods everyone liked. And who could forget her beautiful flowers and vegetable garden that she and Herbert had all those years and the variety of home-canned produce. All the kids have special memories of grandma/great-grandma playing games with them, too.

The Dalke's served churches in Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, California and Illinois. In their retirement, Herbert and Bertha lived five years in Oelwein, Iowa, before moving in 2004 to Covenant Village, Westminster, CO, to be near their oldest daughter, who was their main caregiver. They moved to Covenant Village Assisted Living in 2009, where Bertha remained until her death. Herbert went to be with the Lord October 13, 2012.

Bertha's family always will remember her ministering at her husband's side, from their first ministry in Oklahoma, with Mom playing the old portable pump organ and Dad preaching during tent meetings. Bertha went to be with her Lord on April 10, 2015. She is now rejoicing to once again stand at Herbert's side as they are in the presence of their precious Savior at last.

Grateful for sharing her life are: children: Evelyn (James) Rogers; Ken (Karen) Dalke; Dolores (Tom) Guilliam; son-in-law Bill Storey; grandchildren: Justin, Chelsie, Kevin, David, Michael, Rachel, Kathy, Bryan, Lauren and Jill; 16 great-grandchildren; brother: Allen (Wanda) Penner; sisters: Helen Penner, Erna Liermann and Marie Spruell; and sister-in-law Lula Penner.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert, daughter Janice Storey; Brothers: Dan (Salina) Penner, John Penner, Ed Penner; sisters: Tina (Pete) Claussen, and Elizabeth Penner; brother-in-law Robert Spruell.

Viewing, Mon., 4:30-6:30, Service, Tues. 12PM both at Crown Hill, 29th and Wadsworth, Wheat Ridge, CO. Memorials may be sent to Samaritan's Purse or Gideon's International.