Bertha F. Borntreger

Bertha F. Borntreger, age 95, passed peacefully on March 1, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born on December 13, 1930, in Washington Township, Iowa, she entered the world within an Amish community as the daughter of Chris Borntreger and Fanny Schrock. At an early age she was given to Moses F. Miller and Fanny (Yoder) Miller to be raised, where she was lovingly embraced by her adoptive brothers and sister.

Bertha devoted many years to nursing, caring for others with compassion and dedication. She found deep joy in gardening, growing and preserving her own vegetables, which she used to prepare the hearty meals she lovingly shared with family and friends. Above all, she cherished her roles as mother and homemaker. Her Christian faith remained the steadfast foundation of her life. She lived with unwavering devotion to God, raising her children in the knowledge of Biblical truths and guiding them by the principles of obedience to His Word.

In 1950, while still part of the Amish community, Bertha married Eddie N. Borntreger. Together they deeply valued the life the Amish had given them, yet they yearned for a closer spiritual relationship with God. With quiet determination and a touch of humor she often recalled, they carefully planned their transition to the Mennonite church, hiding their first car—painted black—in the bushes and using it only at night to attend tent services and Mennonite gatherings. In later years they continued their spiritual journey beyond the Mennonite community, yet Bertha’s faith in God never wavered.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie N. Borntreger; her daughter, Frances M. Borntreger; her natural parents, Chris Borntreger and Fanny Schrock; her adoptive parents, Moses F. Miller and Fanny (Yoder) Miller; and her siblings, John M., Jonathan M., Elizabeth M., Noah M., Joseph M., and Cornelius.

Bertha leaves behind her daughter, Bobbi E. Borntreger-Drew; her son, Freeman Borntreger; her granddaughter, Angelea C. Smith-Swift; and her great-granddaughter, Nikole C. Swift-Shook. She is also survived by her nieces, Mabel Schrock-Graber and Loretta Schrock-Wagler; her nephews, LeRoy Schrock, Orva Schrock, Clemens Schrock, and Raymond Schrock; and many dear friends in Ferrum and Rocky Mount, Virginia, whose lives were touched by her friendship, faith, and generous spirit. She will be remembered for her strong faith, loving heart, vibrant personality, and lifelong dedication to God, family, and community. Her legacy endures in the lives she touched, the meals she shared, the gardens she tended, and the love she freely gave.