Bertha E. Dahl

Bertha E. Dahl, 89 of Westby, died Sun., Aug. 21, 2005 Bertha E. Dahl, 89 of Westby, died Sun., Aug. 21, 2005. She was born in Wild Horse, CO on Nov. 26, 1915 to John and Belinda (Neprud) Dahl and was baptized on Jan. 2, 1916 at home by Pastor J. Reicci. She attended first grade in a rural school, walking several miles across the prairie. The family moved to Westby in the spring of 1923 and Bertha graduated from Westby High School in 1934. The Westby Primary School was located where the local creamery stands now. She attended one year at the Vernon County Normal and graduated in 1935. She began her dream of becoming a teacher in the fall when she taught her first of three years at Gilbertson School, east of Westby. Bertha attended LaCrosse Teachers College, taking classes in the evening and during the summers, graduating in 1951. She taught a total of 43 years, including the Erickson, Brookville, Sugar Grove and Clockmaker rural schools, and also in the Cashton, Sheboygan and LaCrosse school districts prior to her final twenty years teaching in the Westby Area Schools, retiring in 1980. She enjoyed working with student teachers which she did every year while teaching in LaCrosse. Berthas principal in LaCrosse was Rose Erickson who was formerly from this area. She was a member of Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church where she attended Sunday school and was confirmed by Pastor J.O. Holum in 1931. She later taught Sunday school and Bible school, and was the superintendent. She was also a member of the library board for the Bekkum Memorial Library, and volunteered several years with the Vernon County Salvation Army. She is survived by her sister, Ruth Bertling of Westby; nieces, nephews and a host of friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Irvin Dahl; her sister, Ona Stenerson; niece Mary; nephew Tom; brothers-in-law, Elmer and Orval; sister-in-law, Rose and great-nephew, Greg.