Rosemary Bertrand

Rosemary Bertrand, 79, of Jefferson passed away Monday, May 7, 2007, at her residence.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City, with the Rev. Merrill Muller officiating. Burial will be in Civil Bend Cemetery, Jefferson. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Rosemary was born Feb. 6, 1928, in Sioux City, to Joseph and Rose (Keller) Gill.

She married Norbert Bertrand on Jan. 7, 1945. They farmed all their lives in Jefferson. She also worked at Armours and for many years at Sodrac Park and Park Jefferson. At the present time, she was always willing to lend a helping hand to her daughter at Heaton's Special Occasion Catering.

Her "claim to fame" was the renovation of Civil Bend Cemetery, a small country cemetery her husband wished to be buried in. After his sudden death in an explosion at Bartlett Grain Elevator, with a small daughter and four grandchildren by her side (she was their favorite baby-sitter), she repaired stones, planted new trees, purchased a cross and tore our tons of brush and weeds. She was especially proud of her several service awards. Her favorite was the one signed by President Jimmy Carter and many compliments she received from friends, neighbors and passers-by.

She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Unit 915 and a former volunteer and donator at the Siouxland Humane Society.

Survivors include four daughters and their husbands, Mona and Jim Melton of North Sioux City, Sydney Twohig and her special friend, Koyne, Dawn and Daniel Heaton of Jefferson and Kelly and Todd Erie of Sioux City; two granddaughters, Margaret Riley and Paula Streeter; two grandsons, Jasen and Travis Heaton; 12 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; a very special nephew, Raymond Card; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by all of her brothers, John, Edward, William, Kenneth and Thomas; two sisters, Helen Borowsky and Vivian Fairbanks; a very special companion, Andrew Bertrand; her parents; and one lovely granddaughter, Brenda Lowell.

Pallbearers will be Jim Melton, Koyne Osterbuhr, Dan Heaton, Todd Erie, Jasen Heaton and Travis Heaton. Honorary pallbearers will be Margaret Riley, Paula Streeter and Raymond Card.

Memorials will be donated to her passion, Civil Bend Cemetery and the Siouxland Humane Society.