Bertha Defrance
d. August 9, 2014
Bertha M. DeFrance, 91, died Saturday, August 9, 2014, at the Davenport Lutheran Home in Davenport, Iowa where she had been a resident since August 2005.
Her funeral will be 11:00 A.M., Saturday, August 16, 2014 at Christ United Methodist Church, Toledo, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM . Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Iowa.
Bertha Magdaline Judge was born December 20, 1922, to Samuel & Elva (Richards) Judge in Tama County, Iowa. She married the love of her life, Charles DeFrance, February, 1942, and followed him to army bases during WWII. They rented farms to work in several locations in Iowa, and parented seven children.
Bertha was a homemaker and a hard worker and overcame many obstacles. She was a home health care nurse in Tama County for several years and also had child care in her home. She LOVED babies! She loved caring for them so much. Bertha's attributes were her faithfulness to God, industriousness, kindness, resourcefulness, honesty, and unconditional love which she imparted to her children. She encouraged her children to be well rounded and gain a higher education.
Bertha enjoyed quilting, reading, playing the piano, and dancing.
Charles died in 1978 and she married Dean Cruikshank in 1983. They later divorced in 2005.
Bertha is survived by her children, Joan (Ron) Reinders, Bettendorf, IA; Duffy DeFrance, Wilton, IA; Steve (Joyce) DeFrance, Mason City, IA; Micki (Jim) Jacobson, Arlington, TX; Sam (Ellen) DeFrance, Colorado Springs, CO; Donna (Steve) Waite, Savannah, GA; and Dave (Rhonda) DeFrance, Webster, IA. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, sister-in-law, Beverly Judge, and many nieces and nephews.
Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings and spouses; Lewis and Wilma Judge, Gertrude and Fred Kerr, Walter and Mary Judge, Richard and Maxine Judge, Lawrence, Henry and Ida Judge and Virgil Judge.
Memorials may be made to Davenport Lutheran Home, 1130 West 53rd St., Davenport, Iowa, 52806, or your public library.
Kruse-Phillips Funeral Homes of Tama and McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf are assisting the family with arrangements.