Margaret M. Bertrand, age 99, of Sleepy Eye, MN, died on January 5, 2013 at the Sleepy Eye Medical Center, just 25 days before her 100th birthday.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 10, 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Providence Community Home Chapel, Sleepy Eye, MN
Visitation will be held Wednesday 5-8 p.m. at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye, MN & Thursday from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Divine Providence Chapel.
Interment will take place in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Sleepy Eye.
Lunch to be held in the St. Mary's Church Social Room.
Margaret Mary Bertrand was born in Granville, IA on January 30, 1913, the daughter of Eugene & Elizabeth (Boever) Hoffmann. In 1923, at the age of 10 she moved with her family to their family farm four miles northwest of Sleepy Eye, MN. She attended St. Mary's Catholic School and then cared for younger siblings after her mother passed away in 1941 and her father's passing in 1943. Later, she worked at the homes of many families, helping out when they had new babies. In her middle years she was a seasonal worker at Haas Press for five years. Margaret married Ambrose John Bertrand on June 11, 1935 and lived on the family farm until she moved to Lake Villa Maria, Sleepy Eye in 2005 and then Divine Providence in 2007. Margaret was a devoted wife and mother, a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, member of St. Mary's Catholic Aid Association, CCW, Christian Mothers, Foresters, Sleepy Eye Hospital Auxiliary and the West Home Extension Unit. She was an avid quilter and volunteered as a member of the famous "Divine Providence Quilting Ladies," making many beautiful quilts over the years. she loved her flower gardens and growing vegetables for the family while living on the farm, but she especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and winning lots of Bingo while living at Divine Providence. She will be missed by many.
She is survived by her children, John A. (Rosalind K.) of Tipp City, OH, Eugene J. (Barb) of Sleepy Eye, Diane Bertrand Coffield (Darwin) of Monticello, MN, 12 grandchildren, 16 great -grandchildren, one great-grandchild due in June and one great-great grandchild; sisters, Catherine Terrell of Sun City, AZ, Elizabeth "Betty" (Elmer) Hinricher of Flandreau, SD; sisters-in-law, Velma Hoffmann of Sleepy Eye, Adeline (Art) Harpel of Glencoe, MN; brother-in-law, Paul Branster of CO; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ambrose on August 15, 1976; infant son Joseph in April of 1937; daughter-in-law, Bonnie (Paul) Bertrand on August 8, 2008; oldest son, Paul Eugene Bertrand on July 28, 2012; brothers, Leo (Rosemary) Hoffmann, Art Hoffmann, Marcel Hoffmann, Edgar (Donna) Hoffmann, Eugene (JoAnn) Hoffmann, Jr.; and sisters, Hilda (Lawrence) Fritz, Esther (Raymond) Miller and Leona (Mervin) Kerkoff.