Arlene Bertsch, 87
Arlene Helen Bertsch, age 87 of Menno, S.D., passed away early Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno. A funeral service was scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 30 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Clayton, S.D., with Rev. David Ellis officiating. The burial will be in the Menno Cemetery at approximately 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
Visitations were scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 29 at the Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, with a scripture service at 7 p.m. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Live streaming of Arlene’s services can be found at: https://my.gather.app/remember/arlene-bertsch.
When we read the obituary of a child of God, we should not only hear a summary of their life, but we should also hear how God was at work in their life. In studying the Scriptures as they are outlined in Luther’s Small Catechism, we have learned to look at God’s work in our lives and His rule over us in terms of three kingdoms. God’s kingdom of power, God’s kingdom of grace, and God’s kingdom of glory. God’s kingdom of power is the world into which we are born and in which we live. God’s kingdom of grace is the Christian Church into which we are reborn by Baptism and in which we believe and serve God with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God’s kingdom of glory is heaven, into which we are taken by death that we may live with God and praise Him forever.
Arlene Helen Kuhlman was given life on this earth, in God’s kingdom of power, born on Aug. 26, 1936, at Mitchell, S.D., the daughter of Robert and Rosina (Sieler) Kuhlman. She was raised on a farm west of Clayton, S.D., attended a country school near the farm (sometimes traveled by horse and sleigh), and graduated from Parkston High School in 1955.
Arlene was united in marriage to Martin Bertsch on Feb. 12, 1956, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. In this kingdom of power, they provided for themselves and their family with farming and dairy west of Freeman. Martin and Arlene were blessed with five children. After Martin’s death (Oct. 5, 1995) she was united in marriage to Gideon Bertsch on October 17, 2003, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Clayton. Gideon died on Dec. 3, 2015.
In this kingdom of power Arlene enjoyed family, family history, traveling, fishing, collecting owls, flowers, gardening, sewing and embroidery.
Since flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, Arlene was brought into the kingdom of grace, the church, through her baptism on Oct. 4, 1936, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. She made her confession of faith on her confirmation day July 2, 1950. Arlene was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. She served God and others by teaching Sunday school, participating and serving with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, support of Lutherans For Life, and serving the church by arranging meals for funerals. Also, in the church, she was continually blessed with God serving her through the Means of Grace of God’s Word in church and in many Bible studies, along with the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which fed and nourished her soul for faith in Jesus Christ so that she was kept and strengthened in the faith of Jesus Christ for the eternal life that is now hers.
Arlene is survived by her loving family of five children: Arie (Doris) Bertsch and daughters Crystal Hendrickson and Virginia Braaten; Audrey (Doug) Zeeb and their children Kristi Carlson, Justin Zeeb, Amber Linneweber; Kenneth (Cindy) Bertsch and sons Tanner, Trevor, and Tyrell Bertsch; Marlys (David) Huber and their children Amanda Williams, Matthew RisenHuber, Jacob Huber, Jennifer Thompson; and Julie (Stephen) McBee and their children Martin and Morgan McBee. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, and husbands Martin and Gideon Bertsch.
Arlene was also preceded in death by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who rose again and triumphed over death and has gone to prepare a place for her and you in His heavenly kingdom of glory.
“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.”
