Bertha Marie (Cain) Linnens
1921 - 2015 Obituary
NEWTON - Bertha Marie Cain died on
November 18, 2015 in North Newton, Kansas. She was born March 23,
1921 to Russell and Alma Cain on a farm south of Cedar Point, Kansas.
She was the oldest of five children - three sisters, Roberta West,
deceased, Eula Williams of Loveland, Colorado; and Willa Mae Laughlin
of Eagle, Idaho; and one brother, Tom Cain of Little Rock, Arkansas.
Bertha graduated in 1939 from Cedar
Point High School. When she as in the eighth grade, the school had an
invitation party and she invited Ralph Linnens. Seven years later
they were married on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1941 in Florence. Their
honeymoon was spent moving to Kansas City where Ralph had taken a job
with the IRS. After Pearl Harbor, Ralph enlisted with the Navy, and
was stationed for most of his active duty at the Naval Air Station in
Olathe. During the six years they lived in Kansas City, Bertha worked
in the Army finance office for the Social Security Administration.
They loved their time in Kansas City where they easily made friends
through work and church, and enjoyed taking the bus to various Kansas
City sites, including the Plaza.
Ralph and Bertha had two sons, Maurice
and Barry; born two years apart at Axtell Hospital in Newton. Bertha
said her sons gave her some of her greatest joys, including five
grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Maurice and his wife, Rita, of Wichita
have three children: Brian and his wife, Kami, and their three
children Easton, Emerson and Beckett; Chris; and Melissa Riesgo and
her husband, Josh.
Barry and his late wife, Linda, have
two children: Kelly and wife, Julie, who have two children, Callie
and Carson; and Amy Remington, and husband, Brad, who have two
daughters, Payten and Avaree. Barry married, Carol Rupe, after
Linda's death, and they live near Cedar Point.
In 1947, Ralph and Bertha purchased
their interest in the Cedar Point State Bank and they were delighted
to have the opportunity to move back home. The bank prospered, and
when Ralph retired, his son, Barry continued managing the bank. The
name was changed to Cottonwood Valley Bank to reflect the bank's
expansion to include locations in Cedar Point, Florence, Cottonwood
Falls and Lincolnville. Bertha's grandson, Kelly, works alongside his
dad.
Bertha worked alongside Ralph in the
bank until their retirement in 1992. But retirement didn't mean the
rocking chair! She served on the Cedar Point City Council; mayor for
12 years. She said her proudest moment as Mayor was putting in a city
water system in the early 1990s. Also, during that time, she served
as a member of the Chase County Main Street Committee, at which time
the committee secured funds for new street lights in Cottonwood
Falls. Bertha has been an active member of her community wherever she
lived. She and Ralph were long time members of the Florence Christian
Church. Bertha was a member of Eastern Star, Delta Study Club,
Florence Historical Society, Thimble Club, Chase County Extension
Council, Marion City Squares square dance club, and Quirky Quilters
Club.
Among her legacies, are quilts which
she pieced and sewed for each child, grandchild and baby quilts for
the great grandchildren. She passed on her love for travelling which
took her to Europe, the Holy Lands, Canada and San Juan.
Ralph died in 1995 and Bertha moved to
Newton where she dove head first into a new community. She became a
member of the First Christian Church in Newton. She was a member of
the Kansas Christian Home Task Force and treasurer of the home's
auxiliary. She was active in the hospital auxiliary for the Newton
Medical Center and volunteered countless hours in the hospital's gift
shop and surgery waiting room.
She is preceded in death by her
husband, Ralph, daughter in law, Linda, and a sister Roberta West.
She is surrounded by the love of her two sons and their families, and
many friends.
Viewing will be Friday, November 20th,
2015 at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, with family present for
visitation from 4:30 p.m.to 6:00 p.m..
Funeral services will be Saturday,
November 21, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. at the Florence Christian Church,
Rev. William D. Peterson, officiating.
Interment will be held at the Cedar
Point Cemetery following the service.
Memorials have been established with
Legacy of John c/o Kansas Christian Home, and Cedar Point Mill
project, in care of the funeral home, 120 E .Broadway, Newton, KS
67114.
Friends may sign the book online and
read the obituary at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com
