Bertha Florence Berry

Bertha Berry, known to most of you as Skip, passed away quietly on July 14, 2014 in Roseville, California, at the age of 89.

Skip was born Bertha Florence Hoerner on July 19, 1924 to Raphael and Carolina Hoerner, in Glen Ullin, North Dakota. She was the youngest of four children born to Carolina and Raphael. Preceding her in death were three brothers, Bill Hoerner, Irvine Hoerner, and Otto Hoerner, along with her parents and other beloved family members. Skip was married nearly 50 years to her loving husband, Virgil Berry, who passed on August 15, 1992.

After a some-what tumultuous childhood, Skip went to live with her grandparents, Nickedamis and Anna Kuhn while she attended Glen Ullin High School. She graduated in May, 1942. In every high school you have those kids who are voted, "the most likely to succeed", "class clown", "best dressed", and so on. Skip had the distinction of being voted, "class grumbler".

After graduation, Skip's brother Bill found her a job as a waitress in Grand Forks, Minnesota. It was there that she met Virgil Magnes Berry of Crookston, Minnesota. Virgil was in the US Navy and on leave. After only knowing Virgil three months, they married on March 21,1943 in Kingsville, Texas. In the first seven years of their marriage Virgil and Skip had five children. The family settled in San Francisco, California in 1951. In the late 1950's they moved to Sacramento, California. After a couple more moves, they ended up in Foresthill, California in 1984.

Skip worked most of her life while raising their five children. She has had various jobs, some of which were waitressing, cook, bookkeeper, and accountant. She retired from the State of California, Department of Highway Patrol in 1985. Forever after, if you were in a car with Skip, and she passed a highway patrolman, she would say, "there goes my friend; so you better drive carefully".

Skip and Virgil loved Foresthill and their three acres. They loved their mountain retreat, the deer, feeding the birds, and gardening. Together, they tackled the enormous job of building their own home. Their five children helped in that endeavor and can recount many funny stories during that time.

Virgil was notorious for taking car trips, especially to places he hadn't been before. Often they ended up in a place they knew well...Reno or Lake Tahoe. Both were small time gamblers who liked to try their luck with the slot machines. Every once in a while Virgil would ask Skip if she wanted to go for a little drive. She would ask, "where"? He would get a grin on his face and then she knew. They were headed for the mountains; to Tahoe or Reno. Their love of the outdoors drew them to camping and fishing, so they bought a boat and camper and every spring and summer explored new places to camp and fish. Often they invited their kids to travel with them. Virgil Jr. and his wife Pam traveled with them the most. They traveled the Western states together, fishing and picking berries. They smoked and then canned the fish. They made jam from the berries. Before Skip retired, she would get the camper ready on a Thursday night and on Friday after work, Virgil would pick her up and off they would go for the weekend. Sometimes they camped out in the Harrah's, Reno parking lot.

Skip and Virgil were both very talented and productive people. Together they took up rock hounding and spent time in Arizona, digging for special rocks. Virgil would cut, polish and make jewelry from the beautiful rocks and Skip made craft items, which she called "rock critters". Another hobby they enjoyed together was making items out of wood with their scroll saw. Soon their three sons had to buy a saw and the family enjoyed making numerous wood projects together. They loved entertaining their friends and especially family. Sometimes they would play cards for hours.

Skip's hobbies included sewing, embroidery, macramé, crocheting and reading. When Skip retired at the age of 60, she took up quilting, which became her passion for 25 years. After losing Virgil, her lifelong partner, in August, 1992, she devoted her time to family and quilting. She was a beautiful, accomplished quilter and made over a hundred hand made quilts. Each day at 4:00 in the morning she would quilt and stop about 5:00 in the evening. She broke up her day with reading, working crossword puzzles, and watching the news and weather. If anyone wanted to know what the weather forecast was, they knew to ask Skip. Her favorite outings, aside from the occasional casino trips, were quilt shows, fabric stores, and eating out. She was very helpful to anyone who wanted to learn to quilt and was inspirational to her two daughters and daughter-in-laws in the art of quilt making. Her endless patience, sense of humor, and quick wit made working with her enjoyable. She was an immaculate housekeeper, very good cook, and an even better baker.

Skip's family was a huge part of her life. Spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren made her very happy. She was much loved and will be remembered best for her generosity and love for her family.

Survivors include her five children: Virgil Berry, Jr. and his wife Pamela of Lincoln, California, Carolyn Hasbrouck and her husband Ronald of Merlin, Oregon, Randall Berry and his wife Maryanne of Sacramento, California, Linda Berry and her husband Donald Mesquita of Foresthill, California, and Dennis Berry and his wife Sally of Pilot Hill, California. Skip is also survived by numerous other family members, including brothers Fred Muller and his wife Virginia, Raymond Muller and his wife Edna, Edward Muller and his wife Larue, and John Muller and his wife Diane and a sister, Agnes Muller. Skip has seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

There is a time for remembering and a time for parting...
Skip will be deeply missed.