Bertha Eleanor Sylvia (Koski) Thompson was called Home Sunday morning, January 6th, 2008.

Bertha was with her daughters & members of the wonderful nursing staff at Westgate who had become like family to us when she left on her final journey.

Bertha was born in Mass City on October 14, 1922. She was the youngest child of nine of the late Richard & Josephine (Warren) Koski of Firesteel Road, Ontonagon, Michigan.

Bertha attended Mass City elementary schools & then the Firesteel Road School in Ontonagon. From there she went on to work at Pete & Mary's CafAC.. Soon, this adventurous young woman would take a train to Detroit. She, along with many young women, was a "Rosie the Riveter" during WW II and became a welder for a time. She worked for several different businesses including Excello Plastics, Fisher Body, Ferrymore Seed Company, a box factory where she made corners, & even modeled fur coats during her lunch hours. Bertha frequently worked 2 jobs to support herself & her four daughters from previous marriages.

Bertha married Orville (Red) Thompson on August 8th, 1958. They began their married life on a farm on the Firesteel Road in Ontonagon that Red had bought & used in his marriage proposal. He was a loving father to his 4 girls ranging in age from 4-12. He was self-employed as a well driller & then became a logger.

Bertha managed their farm, milking cows daily, winning milk and cream awards & later managed a large number of white face cattle. She planted huge gardens & canned nearly everything as well as canning the best applesauce ever from the 2 apple orchards they had on the farm. She was known for her huge dinners & cooked for company, family, friends & neighbors who often helped during the hay season. During her farming days she also worked full time at the Ontonagon Memorial Hospital. Mom was a pioneer in multi-tasking.

The Thompsons moved back to lower Michigan in 1968 & lived there for five years. While there she worked primarily at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Bertha & Red's hearts longed for the UP so they bought a home in Bessemer to live out the rest of their married lives together. Red went back to logging & Bertha worked 19 years for Big Powderhorn Lodging Association as a housekeeper & caretaker. They also owned several rental homes in the area. On July 21, 1987 the love of her life, her husband, passed away. She closed up their home in Bessemer & bought a house in Ironwood. Bertha began working at the Senior Center on Lowell Street in Ironwood. She worked there until her first heart attack 10 years ago.

Bertha was known for her quick smile, her sense of humor, her hats & style, & later her strong determination regarding serious medical problems. During her last years we nearly lost her a half dozen times. Each time she bounced back & insisted on living alone until June 13th, 2007 when she had a stroke that forced her to move into a nursing home. She loved to sew, wallpaper, do home building projects that included a deck & a shed, beadwork & just about anything to keep her mind busy.

Survivors include her daughters, Candice Koski, Ironwood; Brenda St. Vincent, Canby, Oregon; Deborah (Tom) Roberts, Bessemer; Melody (Bruce) Davey, Wakefield; Her step-daughter Cornelia Peterson, Ashland; step-son, Robert Thompson, Ontonagon; 26 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces & nephews. Also surviving is Bertha's remaining sister, Martha Secrist & sister-in-law, Betty Koski both of Ontonagon.

Preceding her in death are her husband Orville (Red) Thompson; her 2-month-old son, Freddy; a cherished grandson, Kevin Koski, & an adored grandson in law, Orin Brock. Also, her parents, Richard & Josephine Koski & siblings: Ester Peterson, Gertrude Fransisco, John, Bruno, Charlie & Aarne Koski, & infant sister Erma Koski.

All who knew her will miss this very special lady.

Funeral Services will take place at the Cane Funeral Home Friday, January 11th at 1 p.m. Pastor Penny Olson officiating. Freinds may call 1 hour prior to the start of the service. Spring burial will take place in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Greenland. Condolences may be left at canefuneralhome.com.