Bertha Kretzschmar Toftey, 104, community leader and spouse of prominent North Shore artist Adolph “Ade” Toftey, died Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at the North Shore Care Center in Grand Marais. For nearly four decades, she and her husband published the Cook County News-Herald.
Bertha was born in Sibley County, Minnesota, on November 24, 1908, to Josephine and the Rev. Martin Kretzschmar. She was baptized on December 6, 1908, at Evangelical Lutheran St. Johannes Kirche, Deep, North Dakota, and confirmed on May 21, 1922, at Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Kirche, Pleasant Valley, Minn.
She graduated from Rochester High School and attended Winona State Teachers’ College, receiving a diploma in elementary education. Her love for learning took her to the University of Colorado and University of Minnesota-Duluth for summer sessions. She taught elementary grades in Swanville, Spring Valley, and Grand Marais.
In 1995 she was honored at the 60th class reunion of one of her firstgrade classes in Swanville.
Bertha married Ade Toftey on June 18, 1937 at Evangelical Lutheran Emmanuel Church, Gaylord, Minnesota. They lived in Grand Marais where they were co-owners of the Cook County News-Herald with the Hubert Scotts. Bertha served as bookkeeper, proofreader, reporter, and columnist for the newspaper. Her column Shorelines was a favorite of many.
Bertha was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church for 76 years, serving as Sunday School superintendent, teacher, charter member of the “Bookies” book club, and president of the WELCA. In 1998 she was selected as the “Angel of the Year.”
Community activities were important to her.
She had leadership roles in the Grand Marais Garden Club, Symphonions, and Cook County Historical Society, and she was a fervent supporter of the Grand Marais Art Colony.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ade, in 1991, her parents, two brothers, Gerhard and the Rev. Martin Kretzschmar, and two sisters, Alma Sampson and Doris Prestegaard.
Survivors include her children, Joan (Thomas) Schroeder of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania; Susan (David) Hildebrand of Rice Lake, Wisconsin; and Thomas (Jane) Toftey of Winfield, Illinois; grandchildren Gretchen Hennigan, Erik (Jennifer) Schroeder, Kimberly (Michael) Hildebrand-Faust, Hans Hildebrand, Richard (Shelley) Toftey, Jamie (Patrick) Mulvenna; great-grandchildren Alex and Katie Hennigan, Zach and Megan Schroeder, Thor and Soren Hildebrand-Faust, Grace, Megan, and Declan Mulvenna, and Grant Toftey. She is also survived by her sister Edna Schneiderman, Duluth, who is still living at age 100.
The memorial service will be held on Friday, August 23 at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Memorials will be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Grand Marais Garden Club, and checks can be brought to the church or sent to Sue Hildebrand, 2224 18 3/4 Ave., Rice Lake, WI 54868.
Leave a Reply