Bertha Katherine Storey

Bertha Katherine Garner Storey , 97, of Arvada, CO, passed away December 21, 2016.

Bertha was born October 29, 1919 at the family home in Shoshone, Idaho, the daughter of Joseph and Bertha (Hahn) Garner. She grew up believing that it was in 1920, but later found the baptismal certificate with the real date of 1919. Mom was surprised and dad got a kick out of the fact that she was slightly older than him. They lived in a very small house with 1 bedroom for her parents and the four kids slept in a closed in porch with heated bricks on the cold nights. Her mother (also "Bertha") and father Joe grew all their food, trapped, hunted, and fished for meat and made all their clothing and bedding.

Grandma Garner cared for an elderly neighbor and taught mom the skills which led to mom's decision to become a nurse. Living through the Great Depression she learned all the gardening and canning skills, saving, making everything last and not wasting anything. She continued to be resourceful and did not need lots of materialistic things in life. She grew up in a happy, loving home in spite of hardships. Her parents had come from Shell Lake, Wisconsin. She was the youngest and had two brothers and one sister.

Her nurse's training was in Boise, Idaho and she practiced in Winnemucca, Nevada, Monte Vista, Colorado, and Colorado Springs at Penrose Hospital.

She married Britton Storey, two weeks after they met during WWII time. He later flew for United Airlines out of Denver, CO. Isadora (Barbara) was born in 1945 in Twin Falls, ID. Susan was born in Monte Vista, CO in 1948 and Brian in Denver in 1958.

Mom's greatest joys were taking care of her family and her home. She liked to camp and fish, garden and refurnish furniture. She loved to visit with her friends and neighbors.
Everyone who knew mom loved her for her sweetness and goodness, She always put her family first in every way, loved us unconditionally, nursed us and everyone back to good health, and was our best friend and confidant.

Bertha is survived by Son, Brian (Lisa) Storey; Two Daughters, Susan (Mike) Colaccino, Isadora Storey; Six Grandchildren, Brisa Storey, Katherine (Matthew) James, Mallory (Taylor) Taggart, Nicholas Colaccino, Kayla Storey, Abby Storey; Two Great Grandchildren, Cailan Boone, Ava Guidry. She is preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, Britton A. Storey, Brother, Donald Garner, Sister, Carrie Pounds, Brother, Joe Garner.

Memorial contributions may be made to Collier Hospice or Donor's Choice.

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