Bertha Hildebrandt, the second of 12 children born to Albert and Esther Porath, came into this world on August 27, 1918 at Piney, Manitoba, one year after the family immigrated to Canada from the United States.
Although they considered Piney the “land of opportunity”, it was a tough land. They toiled together as a family, clearing land, picking roots ($0.01/root) and stones, hauling water, cutting wood (shipped to Winnipeg), picking blueberries and tending livestock. They played together as a family; hide and seek was a summer highlight, made better when Grandpa joined them because he had long legs and could run really fast! They lived together in a two-room house (one bedroom) until mom was 13. Grandma and Grandpa had a curtain around their bed, and the children slept on straw mattresses on the floor.
When mom was 13, Mr. Bierworth, with Canadian Sunday School Mission (CSSM), visited their area. Auntie Kay memorized the required 500 Bible verses so she could attend the CSSM Summer Bible Camp. She came back sooo excited and shared with mom how she, too, could know Jesus and receive eternal life. Mom became a Christ follower that day. The next summer, mom also memorized the required 500 verses so she, too, could attend the Bible Camp. She went again the following year, but they had lowered the standard…only 200 Bible verses.
When mom finished school at grade 8, she stayed at home helping with family and the farm. She moved to Winnipeg to work when she was 20 and eventually took a four-year program at Winnipeg Bible Institute. During those summers, she volunteered with CSSM to do Vacation Bible Schools across Southern Manitoba.
After graduating from Bible School, mom went to work with CSSM in the Meadow Lake area. They paid her $15/month. This is where she met dad, who was also working with CSSM in the area. They fell in love and got married in 1949. Mom and Dad moved to Caronport, where Dad completed his high school and then attended teachers college in Moose Jaw.
Mom cared deeply about people. Often you had to call two to three times before you could get hold of her. Either her phone was busy, or she was out with friends, or if it was Wednesday, you knew she was spending time with “old folks” at Westview Home. She cared deeply for her family; there was not a day that she would not pray for each person in her family by name. We knew we would always hear the words “I love you” before the end of every phone call!
Mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister and friend…we want you to know that we love you, we cherish our memories of you, your legacy lives on!
She was predeceased by: husband Peter, parents Albert and Esther, sister Kathleen, brothers Alvin, Carl, Lars and Neil, and granddaughter Lana. She leaves to cherish her memory: daughter Ruth (Robert) Serack of Central Butte; sons Nathan (Judy) Hildebrandt of Saskatoon and Dwight (Lisa) Hildebrandt of Winnipeg; eight grandchildren Lori (Dean) Bonner, Brendon Serack, Moria Serack, Sara (Scott) Dzaman, Jason (Jenna) Hildebrandt, Leah Hildebrandt, Brandon Hildebrandt and Jordon Hildebrandt; three great-grandchildren Whitney Bonner, Shelby Bonner and Sawyer Dzaman; siblings Eileen Dixon, Doris Mushaluk, Grace (Tom) Town, Janice (Allan) Fillion, Garry (Lorraine) Porath and Donna (Gill) Kaul; and sisters-in-law Minnie Porath and Noella Porath.