Bertha Mochel

CLERGY
Rev. Greg Way
MUSIC
Organist ~ Shelly Finck
Soloist ~ Lennis Mehlhaff
“Take Thou My Hand and Lead Me”
Congregational Hymns
“Amazing Grace”
“Old Rugged Cross”
“I’ll Fly Away”
CASKETBEARERS
Loren Mehlhaf, Duane Mehlhaf, Tony Dewald,
Glen Dewald, Allen Hamberger, & Brian Meisenhoelder
Bertha Cerole Mochel was born on August 12, 1916 to August and Caroline (Guthmiller) Weisser in Charles Mix county, rural Tripp, South Dakota. On June 22, 1930, she was confirmed in the faith at Free Reformed Salem Church, Tripp. At age 24, Bertha attended N.Y.A. School in White Lake where she learned various homemaking skills. On February 23, 1941, she was united in marriage to Howard C. Mochel. For a time, they farmed northeast of Tripp until they bought their own farm west of Tripp.
Bertha was a dedicated and hardworking farmwife. She raised chickens, ducks, and geese as well as a plentiful vegetable garden. She enjoyed cooking and was very good at it. She never failed at having dinner ready and on time. Bertha also liked to reward the hardworking men in the family with their favorite desserts.
While Howard and Bertha never had children, they kept busy with hobbies and their friends in the community. Bertha was very competitive, when she went bowling, played cards, or attended bingo she intended to win. Together the couple also loved to go fishing. They enjoyed frequent fishing trips, some of which at Ft. Randall, Lake Madison, Lake Mitchell, and Tripp Lake.
In 1998, they retired from farming and moved into Tripp. Following an illness, Bertha moved into the Good Samaritan Society in Tripp in December 2011 to recover her health. She continued to remain a resident at the home and enjoyed good health up to the last month of her life. On Tuesday, March 14, 2017, Bertha fell asleep in Jesus at the Good Samaritan Society having attained the age of 100 years, 7 months, and 2 days.
She is survived by her brother-in-law Victor Mehlhaff of Menno, 28 nieces and nephews, several great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded into Heaven by her husband in May 2008, parents, and siblings: Mary, Ida, Lea, Emil, Arthur, Lilly, Viola, Esther, and infant Benjamin.