Funeral services for Bertha Edinger, age 85 of McIntosh, will be held at 2:00pm Thursday, April 8, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in McIntosh. Tottie Lenerville, CLP, will officiate with burial in the McIntosh Cemetery.


Serving as Honorary Casketbearers are her 8 granddaughters, Kristy Schneider, Marcia Schell, Marla Jensen, Melanie Sauer, Carmon Kletsch, Tonya, Jessica, and Ashley Hirchert, her 23 great grandchildren, Jasmine, Monique, Isaiah, Micah Kletsch, Tamika Hirchert, and Teagan Tharpe, Krista Dillman, Tiann Schell, Malia and Gracie Sauer, McKinzie and Marissa Jensen, Matthew and Mikayla Sauer, Kelly Jo, Kyle, and Winter Edinger, Tyler and Alyssa Schneider, Morgan and Shelby Edinger, Candice Alley, and Alexius Maher, and her 2 great great grandchildren, Jordyn Kraft, and Thor Dillman.


Serving as Active Casketbearers are her 5 grandsons, James Edinger, Justin Edinger, Randy Sauer, Richard Sauer, Rusty Haynes, and her great grandson, Dustin Schell.


A memorial has been established to the First Presbyterian Church in McIntosh.


BERTHA SCHWEIGERT was born April 15, 1924 south of Watauga, SD to Gotfred and Barbara (Moser) Schweigert. She was born on her parents farm at attended a local country school. The Schweigert's moved into McIntosh when Bertha was young. She did domestic work in the McIntosh area. Bertha was united in marriage to John W. Edinger on March 22, 1941 at McLaughlin, SD. The Edinger's farmed in the McIntosh area and operated the R Café and Hotel. In 1947 and 1948, they farmed in Rochester, WA, and then returned to McIntosh to continue farming. In 1960, they established Edinger Motors which they operated until John's death on July 4, 1977.


Shortly following John's death, Bertha was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer went into remission and she was again diagnosed in 1991. She continued living in her home in McIntosh.


Bertha passed from this life on Monday, April 5, 2010 at MedCenter One in Bismarck.


Surviving family members include her 2 sons and 1 daughter-in-law, Henry Edinger, Rochester, WA, John and Diane Edinger, McIntosh, SD; 3 daughters and 1 son-in-law, Virginia Sauer, McIntosh, SD, Betty Edinger, Centralia, WA, and Susan and Charles Haynes, McIntosh, SD; 13 grandchildren, James Edinger, Justin (Nellie) Edinger, Randy (Machelle) Sauer, Richard (Jerrica) Sauer, Rusty Haynes, Kristy (Chris) Schneider, Marcia (Benny Jo) Schell, Marla (Ron) Jensen, Melanie Sauer, Carmon (James) Kletsch, Tonya Hirchert (Travis Thayer), Jessica Hirchert (Mike Brooks), and Ashley Hirchert, her 24 great grandchildren, Jasmine, Monique, Isaiah, Micah Kletsch, Tamika Hirchert, and Teagan Tharpe, Krista Dillman, Dustin Schell, Tiann Schell, Malia and Gracie Sauer, McKinzie and Marissa Jensen, Matthew and Mikayla Sauer, Kelly Jo, Kyle, and Winter Edinger, Tyler and Alyssa Schneider, Morgan and Shelby Edinger, Candice Alley, and Alexius Maher, and her 2 great great grandchildren, Jordyn Kraft, and Thor Dillman; 3 sisters, Freida Peek, in Oklahoma, Edna Gileman, in Washington, and Violet Sailer, Bismarck, ND.


Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John; 2 grandsons, Joseph Edinger and Jason "Ed" Edinger; 3 granddaughters, Amanda Edinger, Melissa Rae and Melinda Mae Sauer; 1 brother, Albert Schweigert; 2 sisters; Emma Gaudt, and Martha Hengel.