Bertha M. Hofland, age 91, of Perham, MN, died Sunday, April 22, 2012, at Perham Living.
Bertha was born on November 7, 1920, the daughter of Carl and Amalia (Foerstner) Steeke, in Corliss Township, rural Perham. She attended Country School #277 through the 8th grade. Bertha farmed with Mom and Dad on the family farm. In the early 1940's, she moved to Oregon City, OR, for five years, where she ran the lunch counter at Ben Franklin. When Bertha returned to Perham, she worked at the Eagle's Café, at Morris Richter's Red Owl Grocery Store, and then became owner and operator of the Countryside Grocery in Corliss Township for 25 years. During these years, Bertha was united in marriage with Jacob "Jack" Hofland, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Perham, on August 21, 1957. On October 1, 1981, Bertha and Jack retired from the grocery and moved into Perham. Bertha was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, St. Agnes Mission Circle where she was Secretary/Treasurer for many years and a longtime volunteer at the Perham Memorial Home, now Perham Living.
Surviving Bertha is her brother, Edward Steeke, Perham, MN, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding Bertha in death are her parents; husband, Jack, in 1985; sisters, Emelie "Millie" Quittschreiber, Edna Wanderi, Ella Fiedler, Emma Papenfus and Esther Sajovik and brothers, Herman Steeke and Emil Steeke.