Bertha M. Lawhorn

Memorial services for Bertha M. Lawhorn, age 93, of Norfolk, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 8, 2024, at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue, in Norfolk. Steve Mattern will officiate.  Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

The service will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.

Bertha died Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

Bertha Mae “Bert” Brinlee was born in Florence, Colorado, to Ervil and Blanche Brinlee. Her family moved to Southern California in the late 40’s. She met Bill Lawhorn in late 1948, and they were married on February 18, 1949. Bert and Bill were married for 61 years, 11 months, and 25 days until his death in 2011. Bert and Bill welcomed sons Tim and Dennis and daughter Sheryl in the early 1950s, and then son Greg in 1961.

Bert was preceded in death by her parents; sister; husband, Bill; and grandson, Joshua.

Bert is survived by her children, Tim (Lyn), Dennis, Sheryl (Curt), and Greg (Linda); grandchildren, Charity, Brian, Charles, Matthew, Stephanie, Kristin, Scott, Aaron, Kevin, Sarah, and Grace; great-grandchildren, Emmebella, Madalyn, Kourtney, Shelbie, Andrew, Ethan, Bradley, MacKenzie, Luke, Lucy, Rex, Evelyn, and Iris; and great-great-grandchildren, Elinor and Charlee. 

Bert enjoyed travel and road trips to Europe and throughout the United States. She was an avid reader (leaving behind many tomes). She enjoyed figuring out and talking about the family’s genealogy. In 2008, Bert and Bill moved from California to Norfolk, Nebraska. Bert became friends with a number of ladies in the Skyview area and spent every Monday for years playing cards. She loved her church family at One Hope Fellowship (in Norfolk) and Community of Believers (in Creighton). She was a mom (and grandma and great-grandma) to many outside her family, including her house cleaner, Teresa, and stylist, Bobbi. 

Most of all, Bert loved her family. She spoke about Bill as though he were only on a trip and would be back any minute. She missed her family in California to the point of tears. And she relished the arrival of more grandchildren in Nebraska, who tried to remember to hug her before raiding the candy jar. After her passing, her wallet was stuffed to bursting with pictures of her children and family. 

Bert came to saving faith in Jesus Christ in 1991 during a crisis involving one of her children. Her growth as a follower of Christ was slow but steady. She took notes during sermons and asked questions afterward, and only the frustration of hearing loss kept her away from women’s Bible studies. In the final hours of her life, she displayed no anger, resentment, or fear, only longing in prayer to be set free from this life and welcomed into the arms of Jesus. 

Bert was well-loved and will be greatly missed. 

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.homeforfuneralsinc.com.

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