Bertha Besnett

Bertha M. Besnett, age 95 of Melrose, died peacefully on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at CentraCare Health Pine Haven in Melrose, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 5 at the United Methodist Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Gary Taylor officiating. Interment will be at Moses Dane Cemetery in Burtrum.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church in Grey Eagle.

Bertha Marie Berens was born September 30, 1920 on the farm in Grey Eagle Township, Todd County, Minnesota to John and Katherine (Sinderman) Berens. She went to the old Burtrum School through the 12th grade. Shortly after completing her education she married Leonard Rahn on October 12, 1940 at the Lutheran Church in Swanville, MN. Leonard and Bertha divorced and Bertha moved to the Twin Cities. She married Leonard Besnett on September 30, 1954 in Decora, Iowa. Meanwhile, she continued to work for Honeywell on an assembly line making airline parts for 35 years. After retiring she moved to Melrose where she enjoyed walking, fishing, crocheting, volunteering at the American Legion, and going to Kenny and Joan's on Sundays for chicken dinner. Bertha loved to surround herself with people and maintaining a strong relationship with her family and friends.

Survivors include her son, Kenny (Joan) Rahn of Burtrum; grandchildren, Cathy (Joe) Lyon of Holdingford, David (Lisa) Rahn of Melrose, Jean (Bob) Frieler of Seattle, WA, and Danny "Bubba" (Nancy) Rahn of Melrose; sister, Rose (Forrest) Johnson of Burtrum; eight great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Leonard Rahn and Leonard Besnett; and sisters, Martha (Verner) Swanson and Theresa (Herman) Marty.

Serving as casket bearers will be Joe Lyon, Chris Lyon, David Rahn, Tim Rahn, Danny Rahn and Nathan Rahn.