Lydia Berktold, 107

Lydia Louise Berktold, age 107, died Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Ellsworth Care Center.

The daughter of John and Mary (Vollmers) Augustine, she was born Jan. 1, 1906, in Featherstone Township, Goodhue Co., Minn. She attended rural school and graduated from Red Wing Central High School in 1923 and from their normal teachers training program in 1924. In 1964, she graduated from UW-River Falls. She taught schools in Minnesota for 11 years before she was married and in Pierce Co., Wis., for 24 years, retiring from teaching the last 19 years at Maiden Rock School.

She married Edward L. Berktold on Jan. 5, 1935. They farmed in Haycreek Township, Goodhue County, until 1945 when they moved to a farm in Trenton Township, Pierce County. Her husband passed away in 1983. In 1994, she moved to Woodview Apts in Ellsworth and to the Ellsworth Care Center in 2007.

She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the Bethlehem Ladies Aid, and the Retired Teachers Association. She enjoyed cooking and having coffee with family and friends.

Survivors include her son, Edward (Phyllis) of Red Wing; daughter, Mary (Gerald) Bristol of Ellsworth; four grandchildren, David Berktold, Lori (Kris) Nickelsen, Scott (Heather) Bristol, and Steve Bristol; three great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one great-grandchild; eight brothers, John, Charles, Herman, William, Arnold, Raymond, and two infants; five sisters, Alvina Nibbe, Emma Diercks, Marie Johnson, Edna Jagusch, and Gaynell Swanson.

Services for Lydia will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Hill Funeral Home, Ellsworth, Wis. Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Ellsworth. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home for 1 hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Go to www.hillfuneralservice.com to send an online condolence to the family. Hill Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ellsworth, is serving the family.

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