Bertha, Sis, Bert, Mrs. Howe, Maw, Mamaw, Mother, Mom, Mama, Sister Howe, Grandma, Granny B, Grandma Bertha
Bertha Emily Daharsh Howe passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 6, 2021, in Prescott Valley, Arizona. She was born June 3, 1927, in Tecumseh, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, to William "Bill" Albert and Emily Bertha Kucera Daharsh. She had two brothers William "Bill" Albert Daharsh Jr. (Francis) and John Frances Daharsh (Pat), all deceased. Her mother passed away when Bertha was almost seven years old. From that day on, she was the main cook, laundress, and homemaker for her dad, two brothers, and herself.
Eventually, they ended up in Avondale, Arizona, in housing for migrant workers. Grandpa Bill was a migrant worker for farms in the Avondale and Litchfield area.
Bertha went to Phoenix Union High School until she married Wallace "Wally" Lester Howe on March 7, 1944, in Tempe, Arizona. There were six children born to this union - Sonja Jane Lee (Richard), David Royce Howe (Doloris (deceased), Bonnie), Gregory Divirl Howe (Jeanette), Ronald Leon Howe (Linda), Gary Wayne Howe (Laurie), and Denise Ann Olive (Robert). Denise was born on Bertha's 30th birthday. She has 23 grandchildren (2 deceased), 67 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren with one more on the way.
Bertha was strong, resilient, loving, capable, determined, and steadfast. These are some of the characteristics she has passed down to her posterity. Bertha was a woman who lit up the room and cared deeply for her family and what was important to them - she knew everything that was going on with everyone.
Wallace and Bertha sold Native American jewelry at fairs throughout Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, California, and Utah. They also served two missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first was at the Mesa Temple and the second in the Seattle Washington Mission on Whidbey Island. There Bertha taught an upholstery class, and Wally was her helper.
Bertha loved to sew. Her email was sewafineseam1@gmail.com. She won her first sewing machine, many "Best of Show" ribbons and several 1st place ribbons at the Arizona State Fair. She and her Daughter-In-Law Laurie judged sewing at New Mexico State Fair. Bertha has sewn many prom dresses, at least 18 wedding dresses, quilts, pantsuits, men's dress western suits, and complete outfits for the Wally Boys. Bertha had some things she would rather not do. "Mending Yuck!!!" She would use safety pins for buttons or hems to hold a blouse together. You get the idea. She would buy clothes then alter them with safety pins.
One of Bertha's life goals was to visit every state in the United States. She accomplished her goal and visited all 50 states as she checked off the last in 2015. Bertha loved playing cards (Hand & Foot, 80 Cents, Solitaire, to name a few), sewing, homemade ice cream, collecting turquoise jewelry and shoes, traveling, dressing up, trips to Laughland, watching NASCAR, making Christmas candy, and crafting.
She was 94 years old on her last birthday. What a legacy, what a life. Her hugs and smiles will be missed. I know she is smiling down on us.
