Bernitha M. Rueber of Westgate, Iowa, died on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Center in Postville where she had resided the last seven years. She was 102 years of age.

            Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 5, 2012, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner where friends may call for one hour preceding services. Interment will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Sumner. Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. John Lutheran Church. 

            Bernitha Margareta was born in Banks Township near Sumner, Iowa, on July 21, 1910, to John and Louise (Nuss) Becker. She was baptized by Rev. Herman Bredow on January 27, 1911, and confirmed on April 25, 1925, by Rev. C.J. Mardorf at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner.

            Bernitha attended public school at Banks Township No. 8 and graduated from Sumner High School in 1928, with a Normal Training Certificate. She taught in rural Banks Township for one year.

            On June 25, 1929, Bernitha was united in marriage to Theodore Rueber of Westgate in Mapleton, Iowa by Rev. August Rueber, Theodore’s uncle. One daughter was born to this union. The couple farmed in the Westgate area before moving into Westgate in 1939. Theodore died on September 18, 1984.

            Bernitha was employed as librarian at the Westgate Public Library for fourteen years and served as the city clerk from 1977 until 1986. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner and WELCA. She was an active member of the Westgate Study Club for many years.

            Bernitha had a true “green thumb”. She greatly enjoyed gardening and raising flowers, especially roses. She was an avid reader her entire life. She looked forward to receiving the Des Moines Register and the Westgate-area newspapers while she lived in Postville.

            Bernitha was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and four brothers, Lowell, Wilbert and Robert Becker, and a brother who died in infancy.

            Survivors include her daughter, Patricia and husband, Roger Martin of Monona, Iowa; two grandsons, Bill and wife, Lois Martin of Vinton, Iowa and Rev. Jeff Martin and wife, Lynn Humphrey of Boonville, Missouri; two great-granddaughters, Kate and Jane Martin and two great-grandsons, Asher and Declan Humphrey-Martin. Also surviving is a special niece, Jan Mullins of Pinetop, Arizona.