MALTA-Bertha Louise Haag, 90, passed away at her home in Malta, Montana on April 27, 2010 after a bout with congestive heart failure, along with other complications.
Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M., Saturday, May 1, at the Grace Fellowship Church in Malta. Additional Memorial Services will be Saturday in May 15 at 2:00 P.M. Longview Nazarene Church, 814 15th Avenue, Longview, Washington. For those wishing to give memorials, they may be sent to Overseas Missionary Fellowship
(OMF, for Mary Haag), 10 W. Dry Creek Circle, Littleton, CO 80120, or Malta Opportunities Inc.
(MOI, designated for Special Olympics), 506 S. 6 W, Malta, MT 59538. Kirkwood Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of local arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left at
www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.
Bertha is survived by her children Katherine of Longview, WA; Steven (Susan) of Malta, MT; Samuel of Longview, WA; Mary of Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Daniel (Catherine), of Helena, MT. She had eight grandchildren, whom she loved dearly: Rebecca of Stevensville, MT; Matt (Mandy) of Missoula, MT; Stephanie of Bozeman, MT; Jonathan of Salt Lake City, UT; Tamika (Rhett) of Helena, MT; Hannah of Salt Lake City, UT; Rachel of Malta, MT; and
D'Andre, of Malta, MT. She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin (Benton, Arkansas in 1976), her daughter Ruth (Eugene, Oregon in 1994), and her sisters Vivian, Ava, Eleanor, Bernice, and Lillian.
She was born on January 29, 1920 in Seattle, Washington to Urban and Josephine Chaffee, the sixth of seven girls. She grew up on a farm in Dundee, Oregon, and excelled in picking berries, fruits, and vegetables. Bertha had a full and eventful life, graduating with a teaching certificate and teaching in an elementary school before marrying Marvin Haag, a farmer near
Lothair, Montana. Together they had 6 children.
During her life, she lived near Lothair, Montana; in West Yellowstone, Montana; in Benton, Arkansas; in Longview, Washington; and finally in Malta, Montana with her son Steven and his family. Her only surviving sister is Beulah (John) Davis. Bertha's consuming desire in life was living for Jesus and praying for the salvation of her children. Her highest aspirations for them were for God to use them in ministry somewhere. As long as anyone knew her, she was praying, reading and memorizing Scripture, and teaching children about Jesus.
She loved her friends and neighbors, whatever side of the tracks they lived on, baking them cookie logs and other goodies. She was active in her church, teaching Sunday School and doing custodial duties for as long as she was able. In addition, she prayed for all the “B's” in her Longview Nazarene church directory as part of her ministry, even after she left the area. Bertha was a prolific letter-writer until the last week of her life, letting people know she cared about them. She put most of her descendents to shame in this area. Even after an accident that shattered her kneecap so that it was difficult to walk, she was baking goodies and sending them to friends.
She loved to play games with her sisters, particularly Phase 10, Yahtzee, and dominoes, but also anything else she could get anyone else to play with her. Bertha never, ever complained and always had a song in her heart. Her faith in God was evident throughout her life, a pillar in the faith.
