Ella Bertsch

Ella Bertsch, age 103 of Menno, SD passed away early Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Monday, December 8, 2025 at Peace Christian Reformed Church, Menno, SD with Rev. Ryan VanderWees officiating. Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery, Menno, SD. Visitations will be 5 to 7 PM, Sunday, December 7, 2025 at the Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, SD and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. The Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, SD is assisting the family with the service details. Online condolences may be sent at: www.okfhc.com. To view Ella’s live stream service, click this link: https://server.attend.live/static/event/kR68x.

Ella Bertsch, 103, of Menno, SD, passed away December 2, 2025, at the Menno Olivet Care Center where she has resided for the last two years. Ella Emelia (Wollman) Bertsch was born to August and Emma (Tadeyeske) Wollman on October 16, 1922, in Menno, South Dakota. She was baptized December 10, 1922, and confirmed on June 6, 1937, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Menno, SD, by Rev. J. C. Hildebrandt.

On September 5, 1947, she married Ephraim Bertsch, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Menno by Rev. Paul Brill. Ella and Ephraim were blessed with three children: Joyce, Roger, and Thomas.

Ella grew up in rural Menno attending Menno elementary school. Upon completion of eighth grade, she helped on the farm and then moved to Yankton to work at the College Café. Ella’s brother introduced her to Ephraim after WWII when they returned from the Army. That began a courtship that ended in marriage where they worked together on the farm in rural Menno and Freeman for approximately 40 years. Ella is remembered for her large garden, wonderful preparation of meals at last minute’s notice, and baking the best pies, cakes and other sweets to be enjoyed by her family, friends and neighbors. Ella was a skilled seamstress that created clothing for herself and her children. In later years she made many quilts, embroidered countless dish towels, and candlewick quilts. Each of her eight grandchildren were gifted a candlewick and lace quilt as a wedding gift. Many other quilts and dish towels were gifted and cherished by family members and donated to raise funds for worthy causes.

Some of the family’s favorite memories were events and holidays that included our favorite foods prepared by our Mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. We loved her fleisch kuchele, apple pies, homemade spaghetti sauce, cookies and elephant ears, and other favorites too numerous to mention. These recipes were passed on to her grandchildren with hands on lessons provided. She was an awesome cook.

Ella was very active in her church and participated in a weekly Bible Study, Ladies Aid, and for many years was the Flower Committee Chairperson. Up until she moved to the care center, she continued to bring cakes and salads to any potluck or funeral in her community. Ella had a strong relationship with her Savior and cherished her church family during her entire life.

Great Grandma Ella never forgot a birthday and always remembered those great grandchildren with a birthday card and sometimes even a little something extra.

Ephraim and Ella moved to Menno after retiring from farming. Ephraim passed away on May 30, 2000, after 53 years of marriage. Ella is survived by her children, Joyce Bertsch Anderson, Roger (Judy) Bertsch, and Thomas (Lisa) Bertsch. Eight grandchildren, Jason (Beth) Anderson, Jennifer (Ahd) Zaman, Jaime (Cody) Reis, Christopher (Annie) Bertsch, Cory (Martha) Bertsch, Thad (Jillian) Bertsch, Trevor (Alyssa) Bertsch and Tyler (Jennifer) Bertsch. Twenty-two great grandchildren, Noah, Brooke, and Aiden Anderson; Aysha, Adam, and Aliya Zaman; Ella, Oliver, and Millie Reis; Gianna, Michael, Jameson, Arabella, Braxton, Kennedy, Josie, Jude, Jonah, Jett, Blakely, Madeline, and Jackson Bertsch. A sister, Arlene Gall, sister-in-law, Norma Bertsch. Ella was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, Edwin, Helmuth, and Eugene Wollman; sisters, Lydia Ulmer and Vera Sayler; and son-in-law, James Anderson, in addition to many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews