Joan Bertsch
March 31, 1935 ~ September 2, 2021
View Joan's Recorded Funeral Service
Joan Bertsch, 86, of Miller, passed away Thursday, September 2, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society, Miller.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 9, 2021, at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller, with Rev. Janice Palmer officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Lawrence Cemetery. A celebration of life open house visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at Reck Funeral Home, Miller.
Joan was born at 11:00 p.m. at the family home in Campbell County, south of Artas, South Dakota, on March 31, 1935, to Ernest and Bertha (Beck) Schweigerdt. The family was thankful it was before April 1st!
Joan attended rural country school (postal school) near their farm and also went to Artas for more schooling. Her father, Ernest, loved movies and when he heard of a theater for sale in 1948 in Miller, SD, Ernest and Bertha bought the Princess Theater and made it a family business. Joan joined her sisters, Alyce and Shirley, selling popcorn and treats. In 1953, the family built the Midway Drive-In Theater in Miller.
Joan graduated from Miller High School in 1953 and then attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, hoping to get into photography. After one year, she went to Minneapolis, MN to work as an apprentice with Charles-Edison Studio for three years. Joan returned to Miller in 1957 and set up a home photography studio as Joan’s Studio. Joan did all kinds of photography, weddings, families, graduations, etc., and enjoyed it all.
Gerald Bertsch would attend the movie theater and always asked Bertha if she had a daughter for him. Bertha pointed to her youngest daughter, 13-year-old Beverly, the “popcorn girl”. Gerald said she was too young. As time marched on, Gerald and Joan were introduced to each other and they were married, May 31, 1959, at the First Presbyterian Church in Miller, SD. Those were the years when couples went to dances, played cards, went golfing, traveled, and visited for hours.
During her lifetime, Joan served on the Board of Directors for the South Dakota Professional Photographers Association, was a member of P.E.O, served on the board of the Central Plains Arts Council and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. There she was the Sunday School Superintendent for 11 years, a past trustee and session member and served on the kitchen team. Joan enjoyed golf, bowling, playing cards and Dominoes in her extra time. After 57 years as a professional photographer, Joan retired.
She is survived by two blessed sons: Shane (Amy Gard) Bertsch, two grandchildren: Zoey and Shelby Bertsch, Yankton, SD; and son, John (Josie Schladweiler) Bertsch of Roberts, WI; sister, Alyce Oligmueller, Miller; sister-in-law, Florine Henning, Miller; brother and sister-in-law: Orvin and Sharon Bertsch, Miller; many cousins and nieces and nephews; her many deeply treasured friends; and three grand-dogs: Paisley, Nash & Kinzie.
Waiting to greet her in heaven are her loving husband, Gerald (d. 1994); sisters: Shirley Moore (d. 2011), Beverly Kisser (d. 2020); parents: Ernest (d. 1995) and Bertha (d. 2002) Schweigerdt; father and mother-in-law: John (d. 1992) and Ella (d. 2002) Bertsch; brothers-in-law: Dr. Milton Henning (d. 1993); Myron Moore (d. 2006), Marvin Kisser (d. 2010) and Marvin Oligmueller (d. 2010).
Joan creatively captured many great memories and precious moments for past, present & future generations.
Memorials can be directed to the First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. 1st Ave., Miller, SD 57362 or the charity of your choice.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Joan’s arrangements.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
My sincere sympathy to the family of Joan Bertsch.
So sorry for your loss my sympathy to the family
We are so sad to hear of Joan's passing from this life into eternity. She is such a sweet person and we know she is in the arms of her Lord. We extend our sympathy on her passing.
Great memories of Joan. She took my senior pictures as she did for so many others. I ran into her years later-I think she had a phenomenal memory. She contributed to my interest in photography. She will be missed. I would like to send a virtual hug to her entire family. RIP Joan, just know that we all love you.
Joanie was an outstanding person and a very good friend. She will be missed by many. Was one terrific photographer and taught me a lot when I was in high school. My sincere sympathy to her sons and family. Rest In Peace Joanie so many loved you and will miss you. Sass
My deepest sympathy! She will be greatly missed! From one of the domino players from the Plaza.
Sorry for your loss she was an Awesome lady.
Our Deepest Sympathy
Dr. Dick and Kathy Splichal
What a wonderful delightful woman your Mom was. Have had many good laughs with her. I have been blessed with having her as a friend. God bless your families.
My condolences to the entire family. Joan was a wonderful lady. I can still remember her taking my senior photos and seeing her at the bowling alley.
Joan was a wonderful person and a true professional. She helped me in my youth with my 4-H photography project and then in high school on the MHS Hoofbeats school newspaper and the 1979 Rustler yearbook which won All-State honors — many of the published photos are hers! Later, I appreciated Joan's insight and advice on art, church, and community matters. Sending my expressions of sympathy and care to Shane and John and the entire family.
Sympathy to the families of Joan, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Joanie was such a jolly person. We had such good times throughout the years. Our youth group meet at Rev. Wards home for breakfast on Sunday, with Alice Ward our instructor, such fun we had! Joan will be missed by all, may she Rest In Peace.