Edith Bertelsen

Edith Mary Pedersen was born in Audubon, Iowa on September 6, 1914. Audubon is a community in western Iowa which was settled by Danish Immigrants. When she visited her birth place, she was so excited to see and tell tales of her childhood. She talked about sneaking into the darkened church to play the organ. She was like a little child anxious to tell the details of her childhood which included the house where she grew up.

Her family moved from Audubon to Morgan, Minnesota when she was 10 years old. Her father thought he could make more money in Minnesota, as carpentry work was difficult to find in Iowa.

Edith attended Dana College in 1933-34. She then moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she worked as a family cook and housekeeper.

As was the custom, Edith attended a Bible camp at Clifford Lake in Michigan. Here she met her future husband, Christian Bertelsen. They were married on May 30, 1936 and made their home in McNabb, Illinois as Chris was an ordained pastor and served the local Lutheran church. In 1937 their first child was born, a son, Norman.

Chris accepted a call from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Owatonna, Minnesota where their three other children, Mary, Jim and Carol, were born. During these years she was a great asset to the churches Chris served because of her ability to play the piano and organ. She not only read music, but also had the gift of playing songs by ear. This led her to being the accompanist at many hymn sings on Sunday night.

After ten years in Owatonna, they accepted a call from a two point parish in Rutland, Iowa. As their children reached school age, Chris was concerned about the quality of education in the small town of Rutland. After only two years, they accepted another call to Kankakee, Illinois.

In Kankakee Edith found a job to help finance college costs for their children. After serving Trinity Lutheran for 12 years, Chris, due to health issues, looked for a part time job. They then accepted a call to a congregation in Harlan, Iowa. This was an ideal move, since Chris was able to help Reverend Oscar Johnson, an old friend and the senior pastor in Harlan. Chris’ health continued to deteriorate and he died in 1966. Edith then moved to Colorado where three of her four children lived.

In Denver, she worked at national Jewish Hospital, and a Lutheran bookstore. Because of her love of playing the piano, she faithfully volunteered to ply weekly for worship services at the Lutheran Home in Arvada.

Edith was always ready to play and sing and spent many evenings playing and entertaining the whole family. Many of her favorite hymns will be sung at the “celebration of her life” service at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheat ridge, Colorado.

Edith died at Bethany health Care center on December 10, 2014.

Edith is survived by:

NORMAN (Voanne) Bertelsen,

* Sheryl (Michael) Tevebaugh and their son, Matthew (Lauren) Tevebaugh and their son, Theo

and daughter, Jessica Tevebaugh

* Eric Bertelsen

*Joel (Tami) Bertelsen and thier children, Joshua, Carly and Elli Bertelsen

*James Bertelsen

MARY (Jim) Ruden

*James Ruden

*Peter Ruden

JIM (Linda) Bertelsen

*Christopher (Karen) Bertelsen

*Maren (Keb) Bertelsen

CAROL (Curtis) Schmidt

*Katie Schmidt

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice or the Heritage Fund at Holy Cross Lutheran Church