Bertha “Billie” Ehrlich

Bertha “Billie” Ehrlich was born to Anthony and Mary (Clausen) Long in Dickinson County, Iowa on September 11, 1908. She graduated from high school at Lake Park then attended beauty school in Sioux City where she met her husband, Nate Ehrlich.

Bertha and her husband owned and operated three ballrooms, The Woodcliff at Spencer, The Monterrey at Owatonna, MN, and Jewett’s Point at Fairbault, MN.

She loved to play the piano and sing, and work in her yard at Jewett’s Point at Fairbault, MN. Bertha loved to tell stories about her life growing up on the farm at Lake Park. She loved to fish, but most of all she loved her family.

“Billie,” as her friends and family called her, was a very kind and generous person; she supported many charities over the years and never turned down anyone if they needed her. She loved to laugh, enjoyed living on the lake at Jewett’s Point and spent hours mowing and loved every minute. Bertha was devoted to her husband, Nate, for over 50 years. It was after his death in the fall of 1987, that she felt it was time to return to Northwest Iowa to be with family.

In October of 1998, Hilltop Care Center became her new home. She enjoyed playing bingo on Tuesdays, the many sing-a-longs and watching the big- screen TV. She was a gentle soul who liked to sit back and take everything in. She had a wonderful laugh and a great big smile. Smoking cigarettes and eating chocolate chip cookies were two of her favorite pastimes. Bertha brought joy to our lives and while she will be greatly missed, her spirit will live on in each of us.

She is survived by one sister, Esther Graves of Venice, CA and many nieces and nephews.

IN MEMORY
Bertha “Billie” Ehrlich
September 11, 1908 May 14, 2004

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Spirit Lake, Iowa

PRESIDER
Fr. James Smith

MUSIC
Karen Arnold, Organist
Laura Fitzgibbons, Cantor
We Walk By Faith
You Are Mine
On Eagles Wings

PALLBEARERS
Philip Barthel
Dick Long
Mark Bergquist
Noel Naber
Michael Ross

HONORARY PALLBEARER
Gene Naber

INTERMENT
Calvary Cemetery
Milford, Iowa

The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want,
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters;
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me;
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

Psalm 23