Bertha R. Monroe, 100
Bertha Rein Monroe, 100, passed away quietly at her home in Whitefish with her family at her side Oct. 15, 2005.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, Dave Monroe, this past August.
Bertha was born in Dash Township, N.D., on April 8, 1905, to Frederick and Mary Rein. She was one of eight children. The Rein family farmed in North Dakota and Canada before settling in Montana in 1910. The family homesteaded near the Pablo Reservoir until her father was killed in an automobile crash near Hot Springs in 1918. Bertha's mother later married Will Seifert and remained in the Polson area.
Bertha worked on the family farm, attended school and worked as a housekeeper. In 192, she married and gave birth to a daughter, Betty Jane. By the 1940s, Bertha and her daughter had moved to Reno, Nev., where she worked as a seamstress.
While working at an awning shop in Reno, Bertha met the love of her life, David Monroe. Dave and Bertha were married Sept. 15, 1947, and shortly thereafter moved to Phoenix. There they both worked in the blind and awning business. At one point they did several jobs for famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
In 1954, they moved back to home to Montana and opened their own awning shop, Monroe's Awning and Canvas, which stood on the corner of Second Avenue West and Third Street East in Kalispell (which is where the post office parking lot is now). Dave went to work for the new aluminum plant in 1955, and they closed the shop and moved to Columbia Falls the next year.
In January 1962, Dave was selected to work for the International Union as a representative. Together they traveled the United States on union business, visiting every continental state but Maine. During this time, Bertha was a homemaker and bowled in several leagues. On annual vacations, the couple always came home to Montana to visit family and friends. In the 1970s, they bought property on Little Bitterroot Lake, where they loved fishing and gathering with friends and family for reunions. Dave and Bertha finally retired Nov. 1, 1979, to Whitefish.
Bertha's passions in life included visits with family and friends, dancing, fishing, huckleberry picking, bowling, gardening and needlework. She actively bowled in two leagues until age 95. At one time she was the Grand Duchess (oldest active member) of the Montana State Bowling League. She loved life, her husband Dave, family and dear friends. She will definitely be missed.
Bertha outlived most of her immediately family but is survived by two brothers, Harold and Eddie Seifert. She is also survived by three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren; and many very close nieces, nephews and friends.
Dave and Bertha's grandsons, Calvin and David, would like to sincerely thank all the family, friends and care givers who helped Grandma and Grandpa during the past few years to keep their independence and stay together at home during their final years. At Bertha's request, there will be no services and cremation has already taken place.