Graveside Services for Larry D. Bertsch, age 67, of Chadron will be Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 10:00 AM at the Harrison Cemetery. 

 

A memorial has been established for the Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease Foundation. Donations may be made to The PMD Foundation, 24 Devalinder Drive, Newark, Delaware, 19702.

 

Larry was born with a rare and serious genetic disorder, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease, which largely determined the direction of his life. Although his speech and physical abilities were greatly impaired, he was happy and had an infectious laugh. He could communicate with the staff at Crestview and with family and usually had a smile on his face. He loved to joke with the staff and tease by turning lights off and on.

 

Larry was born October 23, 1941, to Harrison residents, Benjamin Bertsch and Margaret Mendenhall Bertsch. He and his brother Robert (Bobby) Bertsch, also born with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease, were home schooled by their mother who had taught school in Sioux County for several years. Larry was the grandson of Sioux County pioneers Clyde A. and Mina Wurtz Mendenhall.

 

He was preceded in death by his father in 1953, his brother in 1970, and his mother in 2006.

 

He lived at Crestview Care Center for over 39 years and, in many ways, the staff at the Crestview was his family. His survivors wish to pay tribute to the staff for the care and companionship given to Larry for those many years.

 

Although Larry is no longer with us, he lives on through organs and tissue donated for research that will lead to a better understanding of the disease that afflicted him his entire life. Hopefully, this donation will contribute to an eventual cure for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease.

 

Immediate Survivors:

 

Cousins- Beth Wells Carlson of Ardmore, OK; Connie Wells Nowlan of Boulder, CO; Katherine Thompson Tillery of Belleville, IL; Steve Thompson of Indio, CA.

Large Extended Family- Lewis Mendenhall of Chadron, NE; Marian Beutler of Hay Springs, NE; Helen Mendenhall of Sacramento, CA; Mark Mendenhall of North Platte, NE; Jane Mendenhall Smith of Newberg, OR; Elton Mendenhall of Malcolm, NE; Carolyn Mendenhall Worden of Louisville, OH; Ellen Mendenhall Strasburger of Ellsworth, NE; John Strasburger of Lakeside, NE; Myra Strasburger McCullough of Moses Lake, WA; DeEtta Owens Kerr of Jordan, MT; Elton Owens of Lewistown, MT; Darla Owens Jones of Lewistown, MT.

 

Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements for Larry D. Bertsch.