Mary Bertek

TRAVERSE CITY — Mary A. Bertek, 99, of Traverse City and formerly of the Village of Wexford, Wexford County, died Friday, March 18, 2011, in Traverse City, at the Grand Traverse Pavilions.Mary was born to Henry and Mary Dunham Horton on July 24, 1911, in the Village of Wexford. At the age of six, she moved with her parents to Rome, Ohio, and later to Hazelton, Pa. In 1929 she married Frank Tyson. Following their divorce in 1935, she returned to Michigan. In 1937 she married Charles Gotthard, of Buckley, where they owned and operated a Grade A dairy farm until his death in 1961.During this time, she was the District Aide for the Wexford Soil Conservation District. She served as Auxiliary President of the Wexford and Northwest district, followed by president of the Michigan Auxiliary and the National Auxiliary Soil and Water Conservation Districts, traveling throughout the lower 48 states and Alaska.In 1969, Mary married Charles Bertek, of Bear Lake. After his death, she moved to Traverse City. Mary was an honorary member of the FFA, the National Forest Service, Michigan Farm Bureau, Interlochen Women's Club, The Traverse City Senior Center and was a member and the organist at the Grant United Methodist Church. She served as a 4-H leader and for over 30 years as a volunteer at Munson Medical Center and the former Osteopathic Hospital.In Mary's life family came first. She loved nature and its preservation, and flowers, travel, music and camping with her grandchildren. In later years, she knitted hundreds of baby hats for newborns at Munson Medical Center.Mary is survived by her sons, Charles (Paulina) Tyson, of Massachusetts, and Stuart (Betty) Tyson, of Buckley; her grandchildren, Mark (Doris) Tyson, of Pennsylvania, Diana (William) Greer, of New York, Eric (Judy) Tyson, of Connecticut, Curtis (Alysia) Tyson, of Troy, Diana (Frank) Bartolino, Brian (Eileen) and Tracy (Kelle') Tyson, all of Buckley; and 10 great-grandchildren. Many special nieces and nephews also survive.Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, sister, Grace Adams; and brothers, Clarence, Glen, Carroll and Nelson.The family would like to express their thanks to the staff at The Grand Traverse Pavilions for the excellent and loving care they provided Mary.Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2011, at the Grant United Methodist Church, with Pastor Bob Stark officiating. A luncheon will be served at the church following the luncheon.Mary asked that she be remembered through memorial contributions to the Grant United Methodist Church or to the Buckley Community School. Please share your favorite memories of Mary with her family by way of the online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.The family is being served by The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Service.