Bertha ‘Teeny’ Williams
Bertha M. “Teeny” Williams, 85, passed away at Bethesda Home of Goessel, Kansas June 19, 2015.
Bertha Marie Barkman was born in Florence, Kansas, on August 2, 1929, to William Scott and Bertha Agnes (Thomas) Barkman. She was youngest of five children.
She was nicknamed “Teeny,” which she went by all her life.
On September 9, 1946, she married Paul Eugene Hunt. To this union one daughter, Barbara, was born. Paul died of lung cancer in 1963.
Teeny then enrolled in Vernon’s School of Cosmetology. After graduating, she opened a beauty shop in her home. She was united in marriage to Boice “Pete” Williams on December 31, 1964.
Teeny was very active in community work. She spear-headed many projects that helped the city of Florence. She collected funds to buy new flags for Main St. and sponsored fund raisers for the fire department and ambulance department.
While serving on the city council, she became interested in upgrading the cemetery. With help of Bob Gayle, she plotted and mapped the entire 116-year-old burial ground. Fire had destroyed what records the city had years before.
Making a new set of records was challenging. When she finished, she felt she had paid her debt to society.
In 1988, Pete’s work made it necessary for them to move to Newton. Giving up her beauty shop and leaving her friends was not easy.
They lived in Newton for 11 years and then purchased a home on the Marion County Lake. After Pete’s retirement in 2002, they have spent their time wisely — traveling and fishing!
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul Hunt; and a granddaughter, Tina Marie Hicks.
Teeny is survived by her husband, Pete of Marion; her daughter, Barbara “Bobbie” Hill, and her husband, Robert, of Stanford, Montana; two granddaughters, Terri Hicks Dorendorf of Billings, Montana; and Traci Hill Schmitt of Great Falls, Montana; and two great-granddaughters, Samantha Dorendorf and Kirsten Dorendorf.
A memorial service will be held at the Christian Church of Florence at. 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 24. Inurnment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established for the Hillcrest Cemetery in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm, Marion KS, 66861.