Adam Bertsch

Adam Bertsch May 12, 1939 – February 6, 2022

Adam was born to Robert and Viola Bertsch of the Hesketh District. They had a daughter Lorretta, in 1935 and then Dad in 1939. Adam’s grandpa Jacob helped Robert buy the original farm that dad was raised at. Sadly, my Grandpa Robert died from cancer when dad was only 12 yrs old, so, Uncle Arthur Forsch and Uncle Benny Zeigler took it upon themselves to be the carers for dad, his mom and sister. Adam worked for both Art and Benny over the years. They also worked with Adam on that ½ section farm until 1967.

In 1960 he married the girl across the road, Frieda Freitag, and while they lived on the farm near highway 9, they had two boys born to them; Timothy Adam born in 1963, and Allan Adam Edward born in 1965, both of whom died at about three months of age from heart issues. In February 1966, they adopted an infant son who was born in December 1965, who they named Neil Adam. They sold the first farm and moved north of Hesketh to the old Sigmund farm in the fall of 1967. They continued to milk cows, had a herd of range cows, feeder calves, pigs, and chickens, from which they sold eggs, milk & cream to their customers in Drumheller. Dad must have dug 100,000 miles of trenches with his backhoe, was known as the grave digger in the area, and he also hauled gravel and asphalt. Mom and Dad both drove school bus in the early years, one had a route to Carbon and one to Drumheller at one time, with dad taking a break for many years unless there was a snowstorm, only to start driving bus again after mom retired.

In 1968 they adopted a newborn daughter, that they named Charlene Sylvia, who later died in a snowmobile accident just after her 7th birthday in 1975. Through all the trials in his life, Adam held close to his faith and continued to attend the Zion Baptist Church on Hwy 9, where he served in many ways over the years.

Their home church Zion Baptist, their family & friends, traveling in a car or camping around North America, and Southern Gospel music were the joys in life that Mom & Dad shared together. They would travel to every NAB & ABA Conference, I’m sure that they attended every Southern Gospel concert that ever happened in this area, and even made it to Tennessee in the fall of 2011. Adam and Frieda would sing together in the car, at church, at friends’ weddings, or any celebration, and in later years they were accompanied by granddaughter Kelisha on piano when she was available. Dad loved singing and could be heard singing above the noise of the cab-less equipment that we use on the farm, and he sang with various trios and quartets. After much reminiscing over the past week and a half, I have so many fond memories of going to friends and extended family, or having someone over, after church every Sunday.

Adam is survived by son Neil (Lonna) Bertsch, three grandchildren, Kelisha (Thomas Archer), Chancelor (Karlyn) Bertsch, Kaitlyn Bertsch, 2 great-granddaughters; Raegan & Mila Bertsch, sister-in-law, Lenora Freitag, and four Albright nephews and their families. He was predeceased by his wife, Frieda, children; Timothy, Allan & Charlene, father (Robert) and mother (Viola), brother-in-law Arthur Freitag, sister Loretta Albright (Bertsch), and brother-in-law Albert Albright.

Thank you to Westview Caring Community, Linden, AB for becoming such an important part of Dad’s family for the past 4 years. We always knew that Dad was in the best hands of care with you, as he started needing extra care because of dementia. Thank you to our Zion Baptist Church family for the love and support that you poured into Dad and his family.

A church service in his honor will be held on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 2 PM. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Westview Care Community or Zion Baptist Church. Courtney-Winter’s Funeral Homes are in care of the arrangements.

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