HURON — Bertha A. Soward, 80, of Huron, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2024, at her home in Huron.

Her Funeral Service will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Welter Funeral Home with burial to follow at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Tuesday morning.

Bertha Ann Johannsen was born on Oct. 1, 1943, in Huron to parents Hans and Clara (Waldner) Johannsen. She grew up on the family farm north of Wolsey and attended country school near Wolsey. Bertha lived in Newell and Sioux Falls for many years before returning to the Wolsey/Huron area. She worked at Bales CCC in the yard helping load cattle. She was always a farm girl at heart. She also worked at the Crossroads Hotel in housekeeping before becoming a caretaker and nurses’ aide at Violet Tschetter Memorial Home and Home Healthcare.

After retirement, she continued to care for others. She was always willing to help those in need. Always ready to lend a helping hand, she selflessly prioritizes others, embodying a true spirit of generosity and compassion. She loved to cook and bake, especially bread. Completing puzzles and spending time with her family were important to her. Bertha could be found most weekends enjoying dirt track racing. She loved to watch her favorite race car drivers.  She had a great passion for supporting her grandchildren at many different events.

She is survived by her children, Laurie Parmely of Huron, Paula Dorris of Huron, Oren Soward of Eau Claire, Wis., Kevin (Lynn) Soward of Huron, and Jennifer Phillips of Huron; her grandchildren, Austin, Emma, and Olivia Soward, Michael Clark, Amber Dorris, Jericho Dorris, Douglas Parmely, and Hallie Soward; great-grandchildren; her sisters, Betty Simon of Ft. Ripley, Minn., Cherl Hunter of Hot Springs, and Linda Johannsen of Wolsey; her brother, Hans Johannsen, Jr., of Wolsey; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hans and Clara; her sister, Marion Johannsen; and her infant brother, Johnnie Johannsen.

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