Bertha Purdum

Family celebration of life services for Bertha Purdum, 87, of Lenox, who passed away Monday, March 23, 2020, will be held privately. Open visitation will be held Friday at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Due to COVID-19 the family will not be present during visitation. Memorials may be given in Bertha's name. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under 'obituaries.' Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox.

Bertha Mae (Abel) Purdum was born Oct. 12, 1932, on a farm northeast of Walnut, the fifth child of eight children born to Abner Earl Abel and Gladys Olivia (Worden) Abel. Bertha grew up attending Monroe No. 7 grade school until 1945, then the family moved to the farm they purchased northeast of Cromwell. Bertha graduated from Cromwell Consolidated School with the Class of 1950. After graduation she worked at First National Bank in Creston.

She was united in marriage to Dale Purdum Dec. 26, 1951, in the Cromwell Congregational Church. While her husband was in the Army, she and her sister lived in Kansas City with their aunt and uncle and worked until he returned home in 1953. The couple moved to Atlantic until 1956. While there she worked in the auditor’s office at the Cass County courthouse until moving in 1956 to the farm northeast of Lenox. Their sons, Mark and Steven, were born while living there. In 1963, they purchased the “Men and Boys” clothing store which was later changed to “Dale’s Clothing.” The couple operated this business until 1988 when they retired. In 1964 they built their home, moved to Lenox and they lived there until 2015.

Bertha enjoyed attending all the activities and sports events that Mark and Steve were involved in during school. They also enjoyed going to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s activities and family gatherings. Bertha was a member of the Lenox United Methodist Church, the UMW Circle, and American Legion Auxiliary. Bertha enjoyed playing cards, and was a member of several card clubs. She also enjoyed golfing and dancing. She loved taking care of her roses until she moved after 51 years.

Left to cherish Bertha’s memory are her children: Mark Purdum and wife Kathy of Centerville, Steve Purdum and wife Tammy of Hutchinson, Kansas; four grandchildren: Alicia Loman and Matt and their children: Keaton, Kaleb, Makaila, Maddison and Maverick of Centerville; Aaron Purdum and wife Ashley of Papillion, Nebraska; Christopher Purdum and wife Ashley and their children: Davis, Burke and Holden of Wichita, Kansas, Nathan Purdum and wife Sarah and their son Eli of Wichita, Kansas; two sisters: Mary Bryant and Carol Anderson; along with many other family members and friends.

Preceding Bertha in death were her parents Abner and Gladys Abel; her loving husband Dale in 2009; three sisters: Evelyn Abel, Loretta Doonan Petersen and Beverly Mohr; three brothers-in-law: Bill Mohr, Gaylord Doonan and Jack Anderson; two brothers: Kenneth Abel and Chester Abel; a sister-in-law Darlene Abel; her in-laws: Francis and Lucille Goldsmith, Pete and Gladys Leach, Raymond and Deloris Purdum, Jean and Carlton Lewis and Clifford Purdum.

We will forever hold Bertha’s memory in our hearts.

May she be at peace in God’s loving care.