Deloris "Dee" Bertram

Deloris "Dee" Arlene (Jackson) Bertram, age 95, Wheaton, formerly of Rosholt, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, February 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethania Lutheran Church in Rosholt with Rev. Nancy Quatier officiating.  Music will be provided by Todd Quatier and Keith Falken.

Visitation will be Saturday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Burial will be in the St. Joseph's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Rosholt.  Pallbearers will be Dee's grandsons, James and Nick Bertram and Ryan, Matt, Andy and Jacob Poole.

Dee was born on February 2, 1929, to Algot and Minnie (Tedin) Jackson at the family farm south of Rosholt.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph's Lutheran Church, Rosholt.  Dee's mother passed away when she was 11 years old.  Mathea was her stepmother.

She attended grade school in rural Roberts County, high school at West Central Ag School in Morris, Gustavus Adolphus plus Bethesda College of Nursing in St. Peter, MN, and graduated as a Registered Nurse.

She met Calvin Bertram from Herman at the roller-skating rink in Wheaton.  After getting signed permission from Cal's mother (Cal was underage), they drove to "The Little Brown Church in the Vale" in Nashua, Iowa, and were married on February 11, 1951.

Dee was employed at the Wheaton Community Hospital and helped move patients from the original hospital to the new hospital.  She was employed as a Rosholt school nurse, Roberts County Public Health nurse, and finished her career as a charge nurse for 20 years at Tekakwitha Nursing Home.  She retired at the age of 76 rather than learn the new computer system.  She was well loved by her residents.

After Dee and Cal eloped, they lived in a tiny, renovated chicken house in Herman.  They moved to their permanent home nine miles south of Rosholt along the Lake Traverse hills, when Linda, their firstborn, was just six weeks old.  Pete was born in June 1956 and Roxy in August 1957 so the household got very busy.  They moved out of the old "cold" house when they had built their new electric heated home in 1963.

The kids kept Dee busy with 4-H, rodeos, horse shows, church and school activities, piano lessons, tuba lessons and more.  She organized many trail rides and youth group activities.  There were many sledding parties with family and friends on their hills, with much hot chocolate and snacks consumed.

Dee and Cal raised their three active children, accepted multiple foster children, and loved on their grandchildren so much.

They loved to play Scrabble, Boggle, Rummikub, Canasta, Carrom, table tennis, pool, etc. with each other and family.  Grandkids loved to be with Grandma making chocolate fudge cookies, wedding mints, lefse, and breakfasts.  They also enjoyed making Barbie clothes with the old sewing machine tucked in the closet, playing games and so much more.  After Dee broke her neck on a garden hose, all of her food needed to be pureed into plops of food on her plate.  She called them "puddles."  A favorite prayer for meals was Johnny Appleseed which seemed to be a favorite for all, especially the grandkids.

Dee could drink coffee all day and most of the night and loved her sweets and salties.  She was much stronger than most people realized and loved her family deeply.  She would fade into the background and fuss over everyone else including a good meal for all.

Dee cared for Cal after his stroke in 2010 until they entered the Traverse Care Center.  They were in the nursing home the last few years, but it was difficult for her to give up the nurse and caregiver in her.  She wanted to care for her husband and best friend.

Dee is survived by her children, Linda (Bruce) Flaten of Wheaton, and Pete (Carol) Bertram of Fergus Falls, MN; grandchildren, Ryan (Alicia) Poole, Matt (Emilee) Poole, Andy Poole, Jacob Poole, Lisa (Paul) McKay, Jenny Kottke, James "Cricket" Bertram, Nick (Kelly) Bertram, and Bridget (Robert) Vandeputte; 14 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Audrey Jackson and Virene Bauman.

Dee is preceded to heaven by her husband, Calvin; daughter, Roxanne; granddaughter, Kate; siblings, Lee (Ruth), Elder (Renee), Glenys (Bonnie), and Carmen; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, and nieces.