Bertha O. Kasl

Notes:

Witfoth-- Bertha O., 95, Friend, widow of Clarence, died Saturday (8/3/02). Born, rural Friend (6/20/07). Attended country school districts 49 and 64 and Friend High School. Homemaker; also former baker, cook for Friend City Cafe and LB Inn, Milligan.

Survivors: daughter, son-in-law, DeLores and Leonard Becwar, Milligan; two grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Edna Kasl, Friend; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents; husband; two brothers; two sisters; one grandson.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend. The Rev. Tessa Louch. Andrew Cemetery, Friend. Visitation: 3-9 p.m. today, funeral home. Memorials to Milligan Rescue Unit or the family.

(Courtesy Dennis Belohlavy, Lincoln Journal Star, 4 Aug 2002)

Family/Spouse: Clarence C. Witfoth. Clarence was born on 26 Oct 1904; died on 1 Oct 1993 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Dee taught school in Saline and Fillmore County. She was later head teacher in Ohiowa. (Milligan, p 195). She taught for 43 years and retired in 1987. (Milligan, Nebraska, 1988-2008, p. 110).

DeLores Eleanor (Witfoth) Becwar went on her last trip on Thursday, May 2, 2019 leaving from Tabitha Gardens at Crete, Nebraska at the age of 94. She was born April 11, 1925 to Clarence and Bertha (Kasl) Witfoth on a farm nine miles south of Friend. DeLores attended Sunflower Country School District #100 in Saline County through the 8th grade. Both her grandfathers (Fred Witfoth and Joe Kasl) had attended this school as well as her father. Dee graduated from Friend High School with the class of 1942.

On August 28, 1945, she was united in marriage to Leonard Becwar in Friend. To this union three children were born: Kenneth LeRoy, Dawn Eloise and Mark Leonard. They lived in Ohiowa, Fairmont, Salina, Kansas, Milligan and Friend. Recently Dee moved to Crete after Leonard passed away.

Dee ("Mrs B" to her students) taught in several schools during her 43-year career: Districts 100 and 90 (which was north of District 100), Spunky Hollow (North of Western), Golden Egg (East of Milligan), District 33 (South of Exeter), Ohiowa, Fairmont and Milligan Public Schools. She touched the lives of over 1,000 students from Kindergarten through the 9th grade. Mrs. B was reminded by several of her former students about "Station BECWAR". If this station was on-the-air they had better be tuned in. They made comments about having fun and enjoyed her sense of humor. But also knew when they should get down to business.

Her hobbies included bowling, crocheting, knitting, quilting, oil painting, tole painting plus her special collection of over 1,200 bells. Reading, playing games and connecting with friends on FaceBook on her IPad and playing bingo were her favorite pastimes these past 5 years. From 1977 to 1997, Dee and LB planned over 90 tours and had a mailing list of 370 couples and singles. She enjoyed giving talks about their tours to organizations and her students. She was known as Mama Dee when singing with the LB Orchestra.

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leonard in 2008, son, Kenneth and his wife Sandy in 1993.

Leaving to mourn are her daughter, Dawn (Doug) Mundt, Crete, son Mark, Albuquerque, NM. Seven grandchildren and spouses, Shannon (Shaun) Mee, Colorado Springs CO, Chad Becwar, Lincoln, Jennifer Becwar, Lincoln, Kamron Becwar, Boca Del Toro, Panama, Jarod (Stacey) Mundt, Windsor, CO, Julie (Jared) Rohrs, Lincoln and Chandler Marintzer, Greeley, CO, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson, nieces, a nephew, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 6-8 pm at the funeral home on Sunday.

Delores married Leonard Mike Becwar on 28 Aug 1945 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska. Leonard (son of Matej "Mike" Becwar, Jr. and Mollie Marie Kuska) was born on 22 Aug 1924 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 2 Mar 2008 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried on 5 Mar 2008 in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When Kenneth was born in 1947, he had 12 living grandparents and great grandparents. He married Shirley WELLMAN in 1968, and a daughter Shannon Dee Becwar (now MEE). (Milligan, Nebraska, 1988-2008, p. 109). He later married Sandra ODLE, who had a son, Chad Odle (dob 10 Jun 1969). Chad changed his name to Becwar. Ken and Sandy passed away in 1993, and are buried at the Bohemian National Cemetery south of Milligan. Chad and his wife, Keri (Bailey) have two children, Austin and Jordyn. They live in Lincoln, where Chad is the manager at J. C. Penney & Company (Milligan, Nebraska, 1988-2008, pp. 108-110).

Kenneth married Sandra L. Noble after 1969. Sandra (daughter of Arlene Catherine Shafer) was born on 14 Oct 1946; died on 1 Jun 1993; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]