Our Family Genealogy Pages

Home Page  |  What's New  |  Photos  |  Histories  |  Headstones  |  Reports  |  Surnames
Search
First Name:


Last Name:



Home Search Login  
Print Bookmark
Bertha Bushnell

Bertha Bushnell

Female 1903 - 1946  (42 years)  Submit Photo / DocumentSubmit Photo / Document    Has more than 100 ancestors and 4 descendants in this family tree.

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Bertha Bushnell 
    Birth 6 Jul 1903  Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Census 1910  Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1920  Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Initiatory (LDS) 8 Oct 1924  SLAKE Find all individuals with events at this location 
    FamilySearch ID KWZG-QTQ 
    Death 31 Mar 1946  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial 3 Apr 1946  Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Headstones Submit Headstone Photo Submit Headstone Photo 
    Person ID i4732  mytree
    Last Modified 25 Feb 2024 

    Father Daniel Brockbank Bushnell,   b. 22 Jun 1862, Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Dec 1940, Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years) 
    Mother Susan Dearden,   b. 22 Dec 1869, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Oct 1943, Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years) 
    Marriage 13 Feb 1888  Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F3120  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mark Stephenson,   b. 6 Dec 1902, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Nov 1958, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 55 years) 
    Marriage 8 Oct 1924  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Veleta Stephenson,   b. 7 Sep 1925, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Dec 1987, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years)
     2. Margene Stephenson,   b. 26 Jan 1929, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 May 2000 (Age 71 years)
     3. Gloria Mae Stephenson,   b. 1 Jan 1936, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Apr 2020, Richland, Benton, Washington, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years)
    Family ID F3246  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 5 May 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 6 Jul 1903 - Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1910 - Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1920 - Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsInitiatory (LDS) - 8 Oct 1924 - SLAKE Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 8 Oct 1924 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 31 Mar 1946 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 3 Apr 1946 - Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • History of Bertha Bushnell Stephenson compiled by Gloria Stephenson Brown

      Bertha Bushnell Stephenson
      (1903-1946)

      Bertha Bushnell was born 6 July 1903 in Meadow, Millard Co.,Utah to Dani e l Brockbank Bushnell and Susan Dearden. She was the tenth child born i nt o a family of fourteen children. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was honore d a nd lived in this family.

      Memories from Alice Bushnell Stephenson (Bertha's Sister)
      “Childhood on a farm was busy and wonderful. There was a row of untrim m ed potawatomi bushes that ran north of the fruit orchard. The world's l ov eliest play houses were made in there. The trees in the orchard were f ul l of bird nests. The birds didn't seem to be afraid of us. They laid t h e prettiest eggs. There were humming birds, bluebirds, blue jays, sparr ow s, mourning doves and meadow larks just to name a few. We played in th e b uggy shed on wool sacks and on the front lawn under the lilac bush. O ur c hildhood was beautiful. It was out in this orchard that my sister to ok m e to comb my hair so my crying wouldn't disturb my Father, sister Lo ttie , and brother Dan when they were down with typhoid fever in July o f 1912.
      “Often an Indian friend from the Indian Reservation would come and s i t under a tree south of the house. His name was Jake. He had a tall th i n black dog. If we saw him there we would tell Mother. She would say, ' Oh , I guess he is hungry'. Then she would have us help her prepare foo d fo r him, which he would share with his dog. On Sunday Jake would ofte n com e to church and sit at the back of the church on the wood box. The n he wo uld come down after and eat with us. He liked our family and we l iked him .
      “In December of 1907, Bertha had a bad case of croup and from that ti m e on, during her life, she had a weakness in her lungs. In 1911 she ha d a nother sick spell from which she had a hard time recovering. She deve lope d a cough and would spit up puss sometimes streaked with blood. He r paren ts would take her to doctors, but they seemed at a loss to know w hat wa s causing it.
      “Bertha was small. She always laughingly said it was because she was t h e tenth in the family of fourteen and she was the tithing of the famil y a nd they were cheating on their tithing. One day Father heard her sa y thi s and he brought her to task in a hurry. He wanted her to understan d sh e wasn't lacking in any way and that he and Mother never skimped o n thei r tithing either. She wasn't small in any other way. She had suc h a big c haritable heart, always so kind and interested in everyone espe cially tho se having a cross to bear.
      “In June of 1919 our Father took her[Bertha] to SLC where Dr. Middlet o n and Dr. Stucky removed her tonsils. She had her Patriarchal Blessin g a t this time also, and went to recuperate at our sister Flora Stott' s hom e in Monticello, San Juan Co.,Utah.
      “In the year 1921, our Mother and Father went to Provo to care for o u r brother Del when he was very ill. Bertha was left in charge of siblin g s Lon, Lee, Alice and Everet. She also attended to" all of the home res po nsibilities. She worked like a beaver! We all loved Bertha and tried h ar d to help and please her. Our parents were gone many weeks before De l wa s well enough to be brought home. Our parents were full of praise fo r Ber tha for how well she had done.,
      “Another time they went on an excursion to the Manti Temple and left Be r tha in charge. I remember it very well because I had fallen on the cor a l rock down at the Warm Springs and really hurt my knee. Infection soo n s et in. Bertha cared for it as well as everything else. A heavy towe l wa s folded over the knee and a large pan of hot salt water was poure d on th e knee for twenty minutes four times a day after which the knee w as douse d with peroxide or bathing alcohol. It was healed by the time th e folks c ame home. They could depend on Bertha and gave her lots of resp onsibility .

      “One school year, our parents sent Bertha to St.George to college to s e e if the warm climate would help her. She boarded with Bro. and Sis. Wh it ehead who were very good to her. She enjoyed her school year but it di dn' t seem to help her physical condition. While there, she met Ezra Tobl er , who later came to Meadow and proposed marriage. It was quite a decis io n for her to make. Mark Stephenson had courted her and also had propos e d marriage. She liked them both. On account of her health, she hesitat e d marrying anyone. Then she read her Patriarchal Blessing and it promis e d her a husband and family. Our parents knew and loved Mark. When she a sk ed for their advise about who she should choose as a husband, they fav ore d Mark.
      “Before Bertha was married, she worked in Steven's Store in Fillmore a n d for William T. Tew, the Seminary teacher for the Millard High School . B ertha lived across the street east of the Seminary Bldg. The Tew fami ly l oved Bertha and she loved them.
      “In the year 1924 Lon, Lee and I got a little house in Fillmore wher e w e were going to batch it while going to school. The house was locate d acr oss from Uncle Jack and Aunt Lizzie Davie's home. While living ther e, Lo n was called on a mission to Arizona. I remember Bertha and Mark st oppe d there to bring us some bread and food from home when they were o n thei r way to SLC to the Temple to get married. This was October 6th. T hey wer e married on the eighth of October in the Salt Lake Temple.
      “Bertha's folks had a lovely party for them at their home. During th e e vening, some of the young people made a fire on the lawn. They made i t o n a large piece of sheet iron, tin or the like. The next day there wa s n o grass where the fire had been. We called it the 'Birth-Mark'. It to ok s ome time to get the grass growing there again.”

      The First Year of Marriage From Mark's Sister Bea
      “It couldn't have been too long after Mark and Bertha were married th a t I remember riding uptown with them in their Model A Ford. They were k id ding and laughing about the last two dollars they had and how they wer e g oing to make it last until they could sell a cow or something. When w e go t upon the highway (Main Street), a fellow stopped them and asked th em t o donate to a fund for a family whose mother had died with poisonin g (Coo ns). She had a large family of small children and had accidentall y take n some poison thinking it was cough medicine. Mark looked at Berth a and s omehow a message must have gone between them because he reached i n his po cket and handed the fellow two dollars. I have wondered many tim es sinc e how they managed without it.
      “I was with Bertha a lot the first few years after they were marrie d . I thought it was a real treat to stay overnight with her while Mark w a s at the farm. It was especially attractive to me after Veleta was bor n . I loved that little girl as much as any eleven year old girl can lo v e a baby...and that is an awfully lot. There was a tiny little chicke n co op back of the house where Bertha kept a few big fat hens. I believ e the y must have provided her with all of her eggs plus a little 'pin mo ney' n ow and then. I remember several times she gave me two or three egg s to bu y candy with.
      “I especially remember one experience we had while they were livin g i n a little house in Holden which belonged to the Kenneys. It had jus t tw o rooms---the kitchen and the living room combined with a cook stov e in t here and a bedroom with a heating stove. One cold winter morning w hile Be rtha was getting breakfast, I was rocking Veleta in front of a ro aring ho t fire in the heater in the bedroom. For some reason I happene d to look u p just in time to see the whole stove pipe falling right on t op of us. So mehow I managed to fall out of the way far enough that it di dn't hit us , but the room was filled with soot and smoke, and the flame s were shooti ng out of the hole where the stove pipe fits on. It was fri ghtening. Bert ha quickly wrapped Veleta in a quilt off the bed and I ra n with her to th e Kenney's home which was on the other corner of the blo ck. They were jus t eating breakfast, but all of the menfolk went over t o help Bertha. Wha t happened from there I can't remember but I probabl y went home to get re ady for school.”

      From Bertha's sister Alice
      “Just before Veleta was born, on a sunny afternoon, Mark went out in t o the garden to get some melons they were going to take to some of the i r friends. He called Bertha to come help him choose. He thought she cou l d tell the ripe ones better than he could. When she was in the melon pa tc h she got her first warning that their first little spirit was comin g t o town. She ignored the warning thinking it was something she had eat en . They did their visiting, stopped for ice cream at McKeese Confection ery , came home and went to bed. When Bertha did awaken there was not muc h ti me before Veleta made her appearance. Our Mother went over and helpe d a t first, then I went over to help when Mother came home.
      “While they lived in the north home, Bertha planted, weeded, and water e d the garden south of their home when the men folk were out to the far m w hich was most of the time. Also there was a cow to be milked, and sto ck t hat we had in town to be fed and cared for. The first summer after m arria ge, she spent out at the farm cooking for the men folk. Veleta's fi rst su mmer was spent there.
      “Mark and Bertha were most generous and kind to their brothers and sis t ers. One example, and there were many, Mark came in from the farm earl y o ne 4th of July morning to be with his family to celebrate the day. H e re marked to Bertha, 'that he guessed they would have to make their ow n fu n as he didn't have a nickel to spend'. She handed him $1.75 sayin g 'the y should have lots of ice cream as she had managed to save that mu ch'. Ma rk went over to his folks. When he came back he said, 'I'm sorr y dear, it 's a holiday and Allen [Mark's brother] was over there withou t a cent t o spend. I couldn't stand it so gave him our money'. It turne d out to b e a wonderful day because they had made Allen's day a happie r one.
      “Bertha and Mark had real love for each other and for their family.”

      More from Mark's sister Bea
      “I remember the morning when Bertha came over to our home and showe d m y Mother how swollen and stiff several of her knuckles on one hand we re . From here on it was a long hard fight for her, but I'm sure that n o on e in all this world has ever taken pain and suffering with more cour age t han she did. Even after she got so terribly bad, I never heard he r compla in. As Bertha and Mark's children were born, arthritis commence d to set i nto her body, especially her feet, knees and hands.”

      More from Bertha's sister Alice
      “Bertha spent several months in a hotel in Ogden in 1933 and 34 so s h e could take treatments from doctors who were there. When she got so b a d that she was spitting up blood, she went to the LDS hospital in SLC . Th e doctors recommended a year of bed rest. After Blake and I were mar rie d we came to Provo to live. Bertha came to live with us and start he r yea r of bed rest. Veleta lived with Grandpa and Grandma Stephenson whi le goi ng to school in Holden. Margene also came to live with Blake and I . Mar k would visit when he could get away from the farm.
      “At one point Bertha broke out with boils all over her back. I place d h ot steam towels and ointment on them. I told her that now she had eve ryth ing that Job had. Bertha answered, 'No, my family have never turne d again st me'.
      “Gloria was such a blessing. While Bertha was carrying her, she was fr e e from rheumatism pain. Gloria was born in Holden in the old home nort h o f the big house on January 1, 1936 at 20 minutes after midnight. Mar k wa s Superintendent of the Holden ward Sunday School. Because New Year s da y was a holiday, he took the youth of the ward for a sleigh ride. Be rth a was so proud of him! They lived that year in Holden until Bertha' s heal th became so bad that they decided to move to SLC to be closer t o doctors . In May or June of 1937 they moved to an apartment on 6th Eas t and 629 S outh in SLC. Mark worked for the Arden Clover Leaf Dairy. The n he worke d for International Harvester. At night he did Janitorial wor k at Auerbac h's to help supplement the family income. Mark bought a hous e in SLC at 1 44 Hampton Ave. when Gloria was two years old. At this tim e arthritis too k over Bertha's body. Deposits of calcium formed at her e lbows. Her fee t were pulled out of shape. The pain she suffered only sh e and her Heaven ly Father knew how much.
      “When Blake and I moved to SLC, Mark and Bertha insisted we move in wi t h them while we looked for a place to live and worked long enough to g e t a pay check. They made us feel like we were doing them a favor inste a d of what it was. Bertha was in a wheelchair by this time but when I w a s asked to teach a primary class, she insisted I do so and she tende d m y daughter Kay in the baby buggy while I did. Gloria and my daughte r LoRe ta had a great time playing together. They were the best of friend s and s pent many happy times together now that they lived only a block a way fro m each other.
      “Because it was hard for Bertha to go other places, we were often at h e r home when we got together. Most of the time she would plan activitie s a nd then invite us. Bertha, playing from her wheelchair, would often w in . She had a wonderful memory and sense of humor.
      “Mark and Bertha had a little old Ford car. This small car could hold ve r y many people and took them to: Millard County to visit, Black Rock, Sa lt air, Liberty Park, picnics, Sunday rides, shopping, church, funerals , wed dings, visiting folks, and yes, even to the LDS Hospital to bring o ur bab y, Kay, home. Oh! what fun!”

      Gloria's Memories
      Veleta and Margene had to learn early to take responsibility and to wo r k hard because our dear Mother[Bertha] was so crippled with rheumatoi d ar thritis, that it fell on them to bathe and care for her and share th e coo king and cleaning. Our Dad[Mark] helped all he could when he wasn' t worki ng. On Sunday, he always cooked a nice Sunday meal while we wer e at Sunda y School. He also took care of the outside work, and kept ou r Model A ca r sparkling clean inside and out.
      Our Mother was the heart of our home and her language was the langua g e of love.
      I never remember her losing her temper but I do remember her sadness w h en we would argue whose turn it was to do some chore. One vivid memor y wa s seeing her bow her head and in a quiet voice say, “Oh, if only I c oul d do it myself”. She would direct our work from her wheelchair (a whe el c hair made from an arm less kitchen chair that had rollers inserted i nto t he bottom of each leg). She sat on a regular bed pillow for a cushi on. W e each had our chores to do and everyone including Dad would work u ntil t he house was clean on Saturday.
      There was a sweet spirit in our home because our Dad and Mom truly lov e d each other and each one of us and we knew it. They taught us to kno w an d love Heavenly Father and Jesus, to pray and expect answers, to b e respe ctful to our teachers and to appreciate our blessings. We were no t rich a s far as the world would judge and if it were not for help fro m our exten ded family (uncles and aunts) we would have gone hungry at ti mes. Uncle L on and Aunt Dorothy would bring us food from the grocery sto re they owne d in SLC.
      I remember Mama as a wonderful storyteller. She had many poems, stori e s and rhymes memorized. Some of them that I enjoyed while I was gettin g m y hair combed or when I was sick or bored were: Epaminondas, Little O rpha n Annie, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Red Riding Hood, Beauty an d th e Beast, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Cinderella, One Eye, Two Eyes, Thr ee Ey es and others. I remember her reading Heidi to me a little bit eac h day . Bible stories were also some of my favorites.
      We used to have a lot of fun in our home. Friends were welcomed, gam e s were enjoyed and popcorn was popped on the old coal stove when it glo we d red hot! Taffy or honey candy were pulled. Sometimes Veleta made div ini ty or fudge. Home was a refuge where we were loved and our bumps an d brui ses were healed.
      We never lacked for friends and they were always made to feel welcom e . We loved family gatherings, visiting, playing games, and singing toge th er.
      I [Gloria] am going to share some of the memories I have of my Mothe r . I was the baby of the family, nine years younger than my sister Vele t a and seven years younger than my sister Margene so when I was growin g u p they were busy going to school, working at jobs, dating etc. This a llow ed me a different view of my mother's later years.
      Prayer was a vital force in our lives. Once, when I was very young a n d couldn't find something I needed, Mama asked if I had prayed about i t . I hadn't and when I did, I went straight to the item I was looking fo r . This was the beginning of my testimony of prayer. Another time whe n I w as about eight years old, when Mama and I were alone, Mama was i n a lot o f pain and she asked me to go to the drugstore to buy her som e aspirin. I t was night and I was afraid to go at night and especially b ecause I woul d have to go past a house that I thought was haunted. Mam a prayed with m e and I went and arrived home safely giving me a sure kno wledge that Heav enly Father, who loves us, hears our prayers and answer s them for our bes t good.
      Another great lesson she taught me was that when I was afraid, discour a ged or felt Satan's presence I could sing a church hymn and the bad spi ri ts would have to leave. I remember her singing and teaching me many pr eci ous songs.
      She taught us to do what was asked of us willingly and cheerfully. W e a ll had chores to do. The jobs I remember as mine were to wash the kit che n chairs each Saturday, shine the metal parts of the stove with Bon A mi , help clean out drawers and wash her feet. Before I would leave for s cho ol, I would get things ready so Mama could copy the family names of o ur a ncestors that Aunt Flora would find on her trips to Britain. Mama wo uld g et them ready so the work could be done for them in the Temple .
      One night when Dad was working and Veleta and Margene were at Mutual , M ama taught me about the Crucifixion of our Savior. I'll never forge t th e feeling I got when I realized what Jesus Christ went through for u s. I t was hard for me to understand that some people actually hammered n ail s in his hands and feet and treated Him so cruelly.
      I would come home from school at lunch time to eat lunch with Mama. Th e re was a Bible story program on the radio at this time that we would en jo y together. After school I would hurry home to listen to other shows w hil e I rubbed her back. We would talk about what I had learned at schoo l. W hen my arm would get tired, she would be patient while I rested it . The n when a new show started again I would rub some more. “That feel s so goo d”, she would say. It really made me feel like I was a big help . One da y I didn't come right home from school but instead walked home w ith a fri end and stayed and played. When I did get home, Mama was very u nhappy wit h me and so disappointed. She explained how worried she had be en about m e and how badly she had needed me. I tried to hurry home afte r that.
      When I was sick, it was a treat to sleep in Mama's bed and look at h e r pretty wallpaper and her beautiful curtains. They were salmon colore d a nd crossed over so prettily. They made the room so cheerful! I didn' t lik e the mustard plasters though nor the caster oil .
      I never heard a swear word until I was 9 years old and a boy on the sc h ool playground swore. I felt sorry for him that he didn't realize how t er rible it sounded.
      When I was in the 2nd grade, I wanted a Sonja Henie doll like my frien d 's with her own suitcase and lots of clothes. Mama took my last year' s so ldier doll and painstakingly with aching fingers made her many lovel y an d beautiful clothes and there she was on Christmas morning in her ve ry ow n suitcase.
      Mama had a great amount of patience. One night, again when we were alo n e, I wanted to learn to crochet. I was all thumbs and kept crying becau s e it was hard to learn but she kept talking to me, patiently helping a n d encouraging me to learn until I mastered a chain. It was hard for he r t o teach me because her fingers would no longer do as she wanted the m to d o and she couldn't show me very well. By this time she spent mos t of he r time in her bed. Arthritis had taken over her body. When she wa s lyin g down her knees would not straighten out. Her hands and fingers a nd fee t were pulled out of shape. Deposits of calcium were at her elbows . The p ain she suffered only she and her Heavenly Father knew how much . Often m y family heard her pray, “Father, please help me to endure to t he end, he lp me to end it right.” This prayer was answered. She was fait hful and en dured to the end. Her passing was a sweet experience for he r husband an d family.

      Bertha died Sunday March 31, 1946. The funeral was held at the Harva r d Ward Chapel on 2nd East and Williams in Salt Lake City and she is bur ie d in the Salt Lake Cemetery.


      Compiled by Gloria Mae Stephenson Brown



This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding v. 14.0.4, written by Darrin Lythgoe © 2001-2024.

Maintained by Steven.