Bertha Augustine Beneke-Dahlke

Bertha's life began on March 22, 1916 in Chicago, the daughter of George L. and Bertha (LaCourse) Sill. She was united in marriage to Herman John Beneke on November 23, 1935 and he preceded her in death on April 24, 1987. She remarried Walter Dahlke on December 18, 1991 and he also precedes her in death on September 4, 2001. Bertha has lived in the Dowagiac area since 1938. She was employed as a nurse at Lee Memorial Hospital from 1950. She was employed at Pawating Hospital as a nurse. She was also a nurse for Dr. Robert Neff, DDS before retiring. Bertha was a parishioner at Holy Maternity of Mary parish and was very active in the Ladies guild for many years, and held many offices. She assisted Josh Norris in organizing the St. Vincent de Paul society in Dowagiac. She was a volunteer at Lee Memorial Hospital and the Dowagiac Nursing Home and a member of the Golden Agers Club and the Dowagiac AARP. She is survived by four sons, Herman (Joan) Beneke III of Dowagiac, Ralph (Carolyn) Beneke of Niles, Daniel (Evelyn) Beneke of Dowagiac and Paul Beneke of Decatur, 22 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, and several great great grandchildren, step son Walter Dahlke, Jr. of Dowagiac and a sister Flora (Dale) Crow of Lakeland, FL. Bertha passed away on Monday April 18, 2011 at Silverbrook Manor. She is preceded in death by her daughter Carol Zeider, two sons Wayne and Richard Beneke, one step daughter Lois Brendle, brothers George Sill, Jr, Richard Sill, and Wilbur Sill and sisters Delores and Jeanette Sill. Her family will meet friends on Monday from 5-8 p.m. at Yazel & Clark Chapel where a rosary service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church led by Father Kevin Covert. She will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac. Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to St. Vincent de Paul Society. Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Bertha at www.yazel-clark.com.