Bertha Delzer

Bertha Delzer passed away in an assisted care facility in Houston, TX on February 4, 2023. She was 91 years old.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, on Friday, February 17 at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E. Divide Ave, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 16 at Eastgate Funeral Service.

She will be buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens next to her husband Andy. 

Bertha was born on July 2,1931, in McClusky, North Dakota to Edwin and Emma Helm where she was the eldest of five children. She was raised in the farming community in McClusky and graduated from McClusky High School in 1950. In 1951, she married Warren E. Parsons from Pickardville, North Dakota. Together they farmed near McClusky and began a family. Tragedy struck on July 24, 1958 when Warren was killed in a farm accident.  Widowed and with two young sons, Bertha moved to McClusky and worked at the Sheridan County Courthouse.

In 1962 Bertha married Andrew F. Delzer. The family then moved to Minot, North Dakota where Bertha cared for her family and worked for Nodak Candy and Tobacco for nine years. In 1970, the family moved to Bismarck, North Dakota. Bertha began working at Mary College (now The University of Mary) as a cook for nine years and then as the Food Service Director for 13 additional years. She retired in 1996. She realized retirement wasn’t for her so she went back to work part time at Saint Mary's Grade School cafeteria in Bismarck for another 16 years and finally retired when she was 80 years old. 

Both her and her husband Andy were very active Eagles Club members and this organization played a key role in their social lives. Bertha was Madam President of the Ladies Auxiliary in 1985. She was member of the Ritual Team and did a lot of volunteering in the club. Eagles club members continued their kindness and generosity frequently while they were both active members, and continuing on in later years through the thoughts, prayers and phone calls. 

Andy passed away October 2015. Now alone, Bertha was adamant about remaining in her Bismarck home. She was able to accomplish this with the help of the Blaine and Melissa Tooke family and Tim and Paula Schatz along with other friends and family until she decided in May 2021 to move to Houston, Texas to be with her two sons. Bertha treasured her time spent with the Tooke family and considered Hudson and Nevaya to be her grandchildren. 

Bertha often remarked on how extremely proud she was of her sons and grandchildren. Bertha was known for being kind, for her sense of humor and laughter, her cooking, and love of family. Bertha was an avid pinochle player and was always at the table when the cards were dealt. Her immediate family always requested caramel rolls and knoephla soup during their visits, which she happily prepared. Only recently, did she disclose that she didn't even like knoephla soup! Our family has so many memories sitting at the dinner table eating knoephla soup after a long trip.

Her most notable stories included her telling of her great dislike of milking cows, riding to school in a horse drawn school bus in the freezing cold of North Dakota winters, and other challenges of rural living many years ago. You had to be tough back then and she was one tough lady who lived through it all. As a young widow, beating breast cancer twice, many years apart and  later as a caregiver for Andy during his last few years She lived through all life's hardships without ever complaining.  

Bertha is survived by her two sons, Lloyd Parsons and Michael (Christine) Parsons, as well as four grandchildren, Adrienn Parsons, Patrick Parsons, Garrett Parsons, and Angele’ Wood, and eight great-grandchildren, along with her brother Arlington Helm and his wife, Phyllis of McClusky; her two sisters, Joyce Hoffer of Minot and Donna Jesz and her husband Welford  of Gretna Nebraska and many nieces, nephews and their children.

She was preceded in death by her sister Elaine Schatz of Bismarck.

Bertha was a friend to many and she most wanted to be remembered as a kind person. She was.

She will truly be missed.