Jeri Barta Berg
My mom, Jeri Barta Berg, passed away this past Tuesday, Jan.
11, 2011. She was 87 years old. Mom lived a full, rich life
— had a playful, friendly, yet sometimes feisty nature, and
was loved by all who knew her.
Mom was born in Midland, Ark., on Sept. 15, 1923, to Doc and
Martha Jones. She was the youngest of seven children — four
girls and three boys. The Jones family left Arkansas when
Mom was a young child and moved to Montana, where they took
up residence in Roundup. Doc died a tragic death after
living in Roundup for only a few years … Mom was 8 at the
time.
In the years immediately preceding WWII, she met my father —
Victor Edward Barta of Lavina. After a courtship that
included Dad frequently riding his bicycle from Lavina to
Roundup to visit her, they married on Aug. 17, 1941, in
Columbus. Their lives quickly took on a significant shift as
her first child — Frederick W. Barta “Fritz” was born in
1942 and her husband left for the war in Europe and did not
return until 1945. Her second child, Victor Edward Barta
Jr., was born in 1950.
The Barta family lived in many communities throughout
Montana. With her husband becoming a schoolteacher and then
a school administrator, Mom found herself setting up
households in Brockton, Alberton, Lavina, Edgar, Fromberg,
Westby, Darby, and then finally Philipsburg, where Dad died
in 1976. Mom moved back to Billings, settled into a home at
Casa Village, and continued to live a full life. She met,
and married Ozzie Berg in 2000, and they enjoyed life
together until Ozzie died last year. Health issues
eventually required that Mom receive living support. She
briefly lived in the Fountain View Assisted Living Facility
in Forsyth and then later moved back to Billings and into an
assisted living cottage at St. Johns, where she was blessed
to enjoy the final year of her life. (Vicki, Faith, Cheryl,
Deb, Kathryn, Alecia, Marina, Brittany, Aubrey and Kristy …
I want you to know how deeply appreciative we are for the
kind, loving and professional care you gave Mom while she
lived at Moorberg Cottage. How fortunate she was to have had
such amazing caregivers. Thank you.)
Mom helped support the family by graduating from Acme Beauty
School here in Billings and operated her own beauty salon
for a number of years. She later, with husband Vic,
developed an interest in antiques and established a
successful antique business while living in Philipsburg.
Mom was a woman with many strong interests. She loved being
around her family and cooking holiday meals for them. Other
interests included gardening, dancing, baseball and fishing.
Her home at Casa Village was beautifully surrounded by a
plethora of flowers, flowering bushes, vines, etc. Her
vegetable garden provided her with hours of focused work and
enjoyment … (I think she used a little Miracle Grow from
time to time but, hey, what works, works.). Music was
essential in her life … all kinds. She enjoyed many a
concert at the Alberta Baer, danced at the Elks or American
Legion, and spent a few late evenings at the Billings annual
Blues Fest downtown, getting carried away by the music like
the rest of us.
Finally, there was fishing. Mom simply relished any chance
she got to go fishing. She would literally almost jump for
joy with caught trout and "stomp on the ground" and agonize
over hooked fish she lost. She became a child again when
fishing. Images of her with her little fishing hat, pole,
gear and grin are simply sweet and precious.
Mom is survived by her son, Victor Edward Barta and
daughter-in-law, Barbara Gunn of Billings; her grandchildren
Debbie Bell and husband Gene of Forsyth; Dani Flores and
husband Tim of Casper, Wyo.; great-grandchildren Jessica
Bushman of Orem, Utah, Nathan (Cassie), Ethan and Aaron Bell
of Forsyth; Bethany McAuley of Miles City and Lily and Levi
Flores of Casper; great-great-grandchild Graden Bell of
Forsyth; and finally, daughter-in-law Joan Wunderlich of
Olympia, Wash.
Mom was preceded in death by her husband, Victor E. Barta;
son, Frederick “Fritz” Barta; sisters, Helen, Fern and
Vermel; and brothers Boyce, Earl and Johnny; and
daughter-in-law Darleen Joyce.
Mom … we love and miss you … for a bait fisherman, you are
all right!!
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18,
at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, located at 1001 Alderson
Ave.
Memorials can be sent to St. Johns Lutheran Ministries, 3940 Rimrock Road, Billings, MT 59102 — ATTN: Foundations; or they can be sent to: American Heart Association, 2812 First Ave. N., Suite 216, Billings, MT 59101 — mention that your donation is a memorial for Jeri Barta Berg. Thank you.
Remembrances
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Dear
Victor and Barbara,
I am sorry to read of the passing of your mother. My name is Marilyn
Rigby, my father is Bill Jones, my grandfather was Johnny Jones. You
mother is my dad’s aunt. We have talked of your mother many times over
the years and my parents tried to locate her when they have visited
Billings and Roundup, but we did not know her name. I received the
obituary from Joy Grunstead, a relative of my grandmother Irene Jones
who lives in Billings.
It sounds as though your mother led a wonderful life. I wish that I
would have had the opportunity to meet her. I would loved to have heard
some of the stories of her life and childhood and learned more about the
Jones side of my family.
Please accept my condolences. My parents, Bill and JoAnn Jones,
requested I send their condolences to your family also.
Marilyn Rigby