Bertha H. Friedt

Bertha H. Friedt

Bertha Friedt, 80, passed away on September 16, 2018, at her home in Mesa, Arizona, with her family at her side.

At her request, no service will be held at this time. A remembrance celebration will be announced at a later date.

Bertha, Bert to all who knew her, was born April 19, 1938, in Bluegrass, North Dakota, to John and Margaret (Dinius) Doll. She was the youngest of ten surviving children and was nicknamed "Pudge" by her brothers and sisters.

Bert graduated from St. Mary's Catholic School in Richardton, ND. She met Henry (Hank) Friedt at a local dance and they married in 1958 and started their lives together in Dickinson while Hank attended Dickinson State College. Throughout their 60 years of marriage, Bert and Hank moved many times and made their homes in small communities in Montana and North Dakota. They met and made close friendships with many couples and many of those relationships have stood the test of time. In the early 1960's they began spending summers at the "cabin" at Lake Tschida in Glen Ullin, ND, and for forty years wonderful memories were made with immediate and extended family members who came to swim, boat, eat, fish and play softball. Hank and Bert retired to Lake Tschida in 1993, and in 2003, retired permanently to Mesa, AZ. There Bert quickly became the organizer of many events in their community, Mesa Shadows. She loved spending time with not only relatives and friends from ND who came to spend the winters in AZ, but made many new Canadian friends.

With each move, Bert was able to demonstrate her decorating and do-it-yourself-skills creating beautiful homes for her family and friends to enjoy. She enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing bridge and pinochle, sewing, trying new recipes, decorating for the holidays and dancing the jitterbug with Hank. She also provided her children with a wonderful example of a modern working women as she juggled marriage, family and home. Bert was employed by the Corp of Engineers, Riverdale, ND, and then with Northrup as a Procurement Specialist, Newtown, ND. Even during retirement Bert remained active and was the administrator of the Doll Family Education Trust which has helped to educate many Doll family descendants.

Bert will be deeply missed by her husband, Hank, and their children, spouses and grandchildren; her daughters, Gwenn (James) Gyldenvand, Devon, Grant and Max of Johnstown, New York, and Gail Friedt of San Diego, California; her son, Patrick (Katrina) Friedt, Gina Friedt (Christopher Zissis) and Kendra, of Southington, Connecticut; her sisters, Millie Hauck of Richardton, Maggie Miller of Vashon Island, Washington, and Sally Forester of New Salem; her sister-in-laws Helen Doll, New Salem, and Ann Doll, Mandan; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, John and Margaret Doll; infant brother Jahones; two sisters, Tillie (Bill) Blasek and Kathryn (Mel) Zahnow; and four brothers, George Doll, Joseph Doll, Lee Doll and Matt Doll; brothers-in-laws, Adam Hauck, Larry Forester and Willliam Miller.

The family requests that memorials go to the Doll Family Education Trust.