Norberta “Bertie” VanderMay

Norberta (Bertie) Poeppel was born Jan. 17, 1923, at Marshfield Wis., the daughter of Joe and Mary (Baus) Poeppel. 

 

She lost her mother when she was just three years old. She and her brother and sister were sent to relatives in the Hoven area. Her brother, Herman, was raised by Math and Anna Mertes. Bertie and her sister, Agie, were raised by Joe and Catherine Mertes. 

 

She attended school through the eighth grade. She was only 16 when Joe Mertes passed away. Agie and Bertie worked in the Hoven area milking cows, working as nannies, and any other jobs the Depression era would afford. 

 

When the war began, Agie and Bertie went east to work in factories making everything from shoes to vacuum tubes for the war effort.

 

After the war, she moved to Minneapolis and worked at the Bemis Bag Co. She became pen pals with a young Army veteran from South Dakota named Harry VanderMay. Soon Harry was living in the Twin Cities taking mechanic training. They were married in Minneapolis, Minn., on June 10, 1950. 

After the wedding, Harry and Bertie moved to the family farm and ranch in South Dakota. They have lived on the farm and ranch northeast of Long Valley their entire married life, building their own house, working the land, and raising their four children. She also helped raise two of her grandchildren, Bryce and Emelia.

 

Bertie was a great cook and everything from her kitchen always tasted better even if you used the same recipe. She loved her big garden and her flowers. 

 

Bertie was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Norris and Our Lady of Victory in Kadoka, teaching catechism in Norris for many years. 

 

Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Harry; four children, Paul and his wife, Ruby, Diane and her husband, Baxter Hogen, Vern and David; four grandchildren, Bryce VanderMay, Elijah Hogen, Isaiah Hogen and Emelia VanderMay; five stepgrandchildren, six great-stepgrandchildren; a sister, Pat (Jim) Reckner, and  a brother, Ray Poeppel. 

 

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Agnes, and her husband, Dick Scholz, Rose Thuente and Ella Mertes; brothers, Herman and Joe Poeppel; and a daughter-in-law, Anita VanderMay. 

 

Visitation will be held Thursday, Aug. 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary service at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Kadoka.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Aug. 4, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Kadoka.

 

Interment will follow at the Kadoka Cemetery.

 

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church Elevator Fund.