Derby - Bertha Althea Unruh went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 30, 2024 at the age of 89.  She was born December 2, 1935 in Hugo, Colorado to Otto and Betty Blankenship.  She lived some of her childhood in Colorado and Oklahoma.  When she was 12, her family moved to Dodge City.

During her high school years she worked as a "soda jerk" at Kline's Dairy and Soda Fountain where she learned to make delicious ice cream floats.  She also worked at the Downtown Dodge Theater. She married Orlan Unruh May 17, 1953. They made their home, most of their married life, in Dodge City.

Bert worked at the Shepherd of the Hills Nursing Home in Cimarron, for a few years. She then worked as a phlebotomist in the lab at the hospital in Dodge City and Saint Catherine's hospital in Garden City.

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Dodge City for more than 70 years.  When her children were younger, she helped teach Sunday School in the children's classes, and she also helped with VBS and Bible Bowl.  She and Orlan were active members of the Win-A-Couple Sunday School Class. They belonged to the Pairs and Squares Square Dance Club and the Round Dance Club in Dodge.

Bertha is survived by her daughter, Debra Watson, of Woodward, Oklahoma, and her son, Brent Unruh and his wife, Dianna of Derby.  Five grandchildren, Jonathan Watson and wife Lindsay of Enid, Oklahoma, Matthew Unruh and wife Gwendolyn of Norman, Oklahoma, Christopher Watson and wife Tomiscena of Mullinville, Joshua Watson and wife Rachelle of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and Jenay Wallace and husband Jon of Derby,  and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters, Hazel Koehn of Collbran, Colorado, Daisy Wasson and Mary Wilhelm and husband Wendel both of Dodge City.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Orlan Unruh, her parents, 2 brothers, Rupert Warden and Alva Warden, 3 sisters, Alma Byers, Rosa Baker and JoAnn Nichols and son-in-law, Neil Watson.

Funeral service will be held at the First Christian Church on Friday January 3, 2025 at 10:30 AM with Christopher Watson presiding.  Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City.  Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Thursday January 2, 2025 from 1:00 to 8:00 PM with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Kulpahar Children's Home or Cookson Hills Children's Home both in care of the funeral home.  Live stream at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LenM2UG9KD4 Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.