L. Evaleen Bertsche

Lela Evaleen (Evie) Bertsche, 83, passed away Thursday, February 3, 2022 at Greencroft Healthcare in Goshen, Indiana. She was born January 19, 1939 to Herman and Irma Countryman Bachman on their farm southwest of Pulaski, Iowa. She attended a one-room schoolhouse on the edge of the farm through eighth grade and was active in 4-H. She began piano lessons at a young age and later studied flute, and was chosen for the Iowa All-State Band two years. She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Bloomfield (Iowa) High School, then attended Bluffton College in Ohio as a business major. She was a member of a women’s vocal quartet that represented the college and was a reporter for the Witmarsum college newspaper. On February 2, 1957, as a first-year college student, she went on a blind date with John David Bertsche, a former Bluffton student. After 19 months of dating, they were married at Pulaski (IA) Mennonite Church on September 6, 1958 and moved to a farm near Graymont, Illinois.

Evie worked as a secretary in a law office in Pontiac, Illinois for four years, then stayed at home to raise their three children and help on the farm. She also taught piano lessons and accompanied youth at solo/ensemble contests. After their children were in school, she worked 17 years as bookkeeper and business office manager at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community. She also served as organist, choir member, and member of several committees at Meadows Mennonite Church, in the leadership of Women in Mission of Central District Mennonite Conference, on the board of Camp Friedenswald, and as the Livingston County chairperson of the CROP Walk. At several times in their marriage, Evie and David did month-long volunteer assignments, including at Camp Friedenswald, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and Mennonite Central Committee headquarters. She loved attending her children’s activities, baking, hosting people in their home, and laughing with friends. She and David traveled to all 50 states and many countries around the world. As grandchildren were added to the family, she loved having tea parties with them under the weeping willow tree on the farm, taking them on excursions, and attending their ballgames and concerts.

After her children finished their education, Evie went back to school at Illinois State University and completed undergraduate degrees in psychology and women’s studies in 1995, and a master’s degree in psychology in 1997 (her thesis was “The relationship between multiple roles and women’s psychological well-being”). From 2001-2003, Evie and David served with Brethren Voluntary Service and Mennonite Mission Network as hosts of the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima, Japan, where they hosted 2000 guests from 47 countries in the guesthouse, taught conversational English classes, and engaged in a variety of peace activities. When they returned to the U.S., they settled in Goshen, Indiana near their children, and joined Eighth Street Mennonite Church. Evie was a leader in the Mennonite Women group, volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages and The Depot, and chaired the American Committee supporting the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2017 and entered healthcare in fall 2019.

Evie is survived by her husband of 63 ½ years, David; children John David (Wilma) of Goshen, Janeen (Barry) Bertsche Johnson of Goshen, and Brian (Diane) of Mottville, MI; grandchildren April Bertsche, Wendy (Kyle) Romanko, Roger Bertsche, Hannah (Scott) Johnson-Gay, and Aaron (Kim) Johnson; great-grandchildren Riley, Trenton, Layla, Addison, Camden, Teydren, Konner, Grayson, Kyla, and Byron; exchange student Rosa Moosbrugger Schaiden of Bezau, Austria; sister Ermaleen Etter of Mechanicsburg, PA; brothers Fred Bachmann of Kalona, IA and Ed (Jan) Bachman of Agency, IA; sister-in-law Mary Anne Moser of Bluffton, OH; brothers-in-law Jerry (Nita) of Atlanta, GA, Joe (Judy) of Chenoa, IL, and Bob (Jody) of Aurora, CO; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Eighth Street Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 3:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be given to Bluffton University, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Camp Friedenswald, or the World Friendship Center of Hiroshima.