Bertha Kambeitz

Bertha Kambeitz, 88, Napoleon, died June 9, 2006, at St. Alexius Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Monday at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Napoleon, with Revs. James Gross, Donald Leiphon, and Deacon Gary Schumacher officiating. Interment will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan at 3:00 pm on Monday. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2:00 - 9:00 pm at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church where a prayer service will be held at 7:30 pm. Bertha Gross was born on May 13, 1918, the ninth of ten children born to Raphael and Marianne Feist Gross in rural Napoleon. She grew up in the St. Anthony area south of Napoleon and attended grade school in the Hills District. Her early young adult years were spent working on the family farm and caring for several nieces and nephews. She spent time in Mt. Angel, Oregon, working in the hops and berry fields. On September 22, 1941, she married John J. Kambeitz in Napoleon. They moved to Marion, North Dakota, where John was employed by the Bank of Marion. John was inducted into the US Army in April 1942, and following his basic training, Bertha joined him in Ft. Bliss, Texas. There she volunteered with the USO on the base, doing mending and writing letters for the servicemen there. She returned to Napoleon as John was sent overseas, working as a clerk at the Napoleon Post Office during the war years. Following the war, she and John began raising their family in Napoleon. Bertha continued to live her life of volunteerism. She belonged to and chose to be an active member of St. Philip Neri Church, the Christian Mothers Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, Homemakers Club, Napoleon Ambulance Squad, American Legion Auxiliary, PTA, American Mothers Association, was a certified Red Cross CPR instructor, religion teacher, choir member, volunteered to serve on the local committee to solicit funding and organize cancer screenings for the American Cancer Society, and volunteered at the Napoleon Care Center. In 1983, Bertha was selected as the North Dakota Mother of the Year. She especially cherished the American Legion Auxiliary and was proud of her over-60 year membership. She continued to attend monthly meetings and was always up-to-date on the latest activities and rule changes in that organization. She held every job at least once, and was president several times. Her Catholic faith was unfailing, always accepting gracefully whatever challenges life gave her. John and Bertha, faithful believers and supporters of Catholic education, established a scholarship at the University of Mary to assist nursing students in the furthering of their education. Bertha enjoyed cooking, baking, and canning, always making sure her family would have their favorite meals when they came home. She could be counted on to always remember birthdates or names, even in her later years. She is survived by her four children, Mary Jo Ronald Goodman of Oakes, John L. Delaine of Bismarck, Mark of Bismarck, and Joseph Rhonda of Bismarck; seven grandchildren, Chris Patti and Eric Goodman, Chad Lynn and Kipp Kambeitz, and Kassandra, Karly, and Luke Kambeitz; three great-grandchildren, Katie, Reed, and John Goodman; one sister, Elizabeth Kambeitz of Bismarck; two brothers, Leo Barbara Gross of Napoleon, and Math A. Magdalen Gross of Bismarck; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John J. on July 4, 2005; her brothers, Anton, Alois, and Raphael; and her sisters, Philipine Gross, Margaret Mitzel, and Rose Piatz. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Napoleon Care Center or to the Napoleon Ambulance Service.

Bertha Kambeitz

May 13, 1918 - June 9, 2006