Bertha “Maria” Welk, 99, formally of Brookings, SD died Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at Hillview Healthcare Center, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Memorial Services will be 11:00am, Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Rude’s Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Memorial Service.

Bertha “Maria” (Weinbender) Welk was born July 25, 1910 in Petropavlovsk, Russia the daughter of John and Sophia (Fuchs) Weinbender.

Her earlier years were spent in Hamburg, Germany where she received a degree to become a Registered Nurse.

In 1958, “Maria” traveled to America and became a citizen of the United States. She spent the last of her years at Greenleaf Assisted Living where she loved to arrange the flowers and feed the birds. The residents and the staff at Greenleaf loved “Maria” like their own family. She leaves behind many friends and will be greatly missed.

Bertha passed away at Hillview Nursing Home on February 16, 2010, in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

She is survived by one brother Harold Weinbender of Bella Vista, Arkansas; a sister-in-law, Lori Weinbender of Midlothian, VA and several nieces and nephews.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers Johannes (John) and Friedrich; and three sisters Ottilie, Olga, and Frieda.