Bertha Harris

Bertha C. Harris, age 73 of Belle Fourche, died Tuesday January 4, 2011 at her home in Belle Fourche. Memorial services will be held 10 am Saturday January 8th, 2011 at the Christian Life Center in Belle Fourche, with Rev. Paul Howard officiating.  There will be no visitation.   Arrangements are with Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Northern Hills Hospice. Bertha Catherine (Dempcy) Harris, was born to Adolph and Mary Erickson, January 23, 1937, at Lebanon, South Dakota.  Her desire to be a Nurse began when she was 7 years old and followed her dream for 52 years.  She contacted Polio when she was 17 years of age and was told she could never stand up to the task of Nursing, so her Doctors would not sign papers stating that she was able.  She attended the Omaha Nebraska School of Vocational Nursing on her own and finished in 1958.  She did private duty nursing for two years to a family she learned to love dearly, and became lifelong friends with, then in 1960 began work with the Veterans Administration with whom she was employed for 30 years and was given more than 15 awards during that time.  She loved our Veterans and believed in them.  She retired from there in 1995 and began working at the David Dorsett long term care in 1996, after a short vacation.  She was employed there for the next 6 years and then sought employment with the Spearfish Surgery Center.  She was employed there for the next several years and then onto Pediatric Home Health for several months.  Wanting to slow up a bit and have a change of pace, she worked for Heartland Home Health in Belle Fourche, retiring from there in October 2010.  She loved working there and felt it was a wonderful way to end a career.  She always remarked about what wonderful people worked there, people who really cared so much for their clients. She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, Lauren, and Gearld Erickson; and her oldest son, Douglas Dempcy in 2009. She is survived by her children, Leland Dempcy of Belle Fourche, and Billie Jo (Dempcy) Cutter of Campbell, New York.  Also a daughter-in-law, Naomi Dempcy of Louisburg, Minnesota whom she loved dearly.  Seven grandchildren, Ben, Brian, Brice Dempcy of Louisburg, Minnesota, Elizabeth and Justin Dempcy of Sioux Falls and Winner SD, and Padan and Yasha Cutter of Campbell NY.  She is also survived by her special pet dog, Fritz who became her companion throughout her fight against cancer.  She also felt so privileged to care for three foster children during her career and regarded them as family, hoping to have made a difference in their lives. She regretted leaving so many she loved, but her race was won and fought the “good fight” to the end.  Her torch she leaves to her children and grandchildren in hopes they too can make a difference with love.