Bertha Georgia Lorenz, age 93, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at the Shattuck Nursing Center. Bertha, known as Bert to close friends and family, was born to Hannah Ehrlich Steinert and David G. Steinert on February 22, 1916, at Shattuck, Oklahoma. She was the third child born to this union.

Bertha was raised on her parent's family farm south of Shattuck along with her three brothers, Albert, Palmer and Floyd. She attended school, first in the country schools (she learned English after she started attending school, her first language was German), then transferred to the school system in Shattuck from which she graduated in 1934. Following high school she worked at various clerical positions in Shattuck.

She married Ralph B. Lorenz from Okeene, Oklahoma, on December 21, 1940. They settled in Okeene and lived there and Southard, Oklahoma, where Ralph was employed at the U.S. Gypsum Plant until they moved to the family farm in 1948, following the death of her mother. While living in Okeene and Southard they had three children, Shirley Ann, James Douglas and Richard Ralph. Ralph died in 1958, and this brought about some major changes in the family.

Bertha was able to get a job at the Newman Memorial Hospital in the business office, a position she greatly enjoyed, reflected by the fact that she worked there until her retirement in the early 1980's. Following retirement, she did some volunteering at the hospital. Her favorite past time in her retirement years was driving or riding through the Western area of Oklahoma, often with her friend Virginia Baker.

Bertha also enjoyed a variety of table games, especially Mogul with her grandsons. She was a lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church where she held various positions throughout the years. Bertha was an excellent cook, and especially enjoyed preparing some of the old German specialties.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ralph; and her three brothers. Bertha is survived by her children, Shirley Ann Lorenz of Irvine, Ca, James Douglas Lorenz M.D. and wife Cynthia of Turlock, Ca., and Richard Ralph Lorenz of Oklahoma City, Ok, two grandsons, James Douglas Lorenz II and wife Julie of Pleasant Hill, Ca. and Michael Jason Lorenz and wife SoonMee of Merced, Ca.; three step-grandchildren, Cara Powers and husband Drew of Redlands, Ca., Jeremy Lemos and wife Kristin of Angwin, Ca., and Lindsay Lemos of Loma Linda, Ca.; four great- grandchildren James III, Judy, Gina and Michael, one step-great grandson Jack, sister-in-law Dorothy Steinert of Fargo, Ok, numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Donations, in lieu of flowers, should be sent to the Ellis County Food Bank or the Shattuck Windmill Museum.