Obituary of Milbert Berreth

MILBERT "BUTCH" BERRETH, age 83 of Lodi, passed away suddenly on Dec. 31st. He was born on July 7, 1921 in Zeeland, North Dakota where he grew up and attended local school and graduated from Zeeland High School. Following high school he became a teacher and taught in a one room country school for the next 3 years. He married Edna Wolff on October 21, 1942 at Circle, Montana. He entered the U.S. Army Air Force and served as a flight engineer with film star Gene Autry as the pilot. Following his discharge from the service he returned to Zeeland and operated the family butcher shop. He later moved to Mobridge, South Dakota and worked for a power company and then to Watauga, South Dakota where he operated the family grain elevator for 3 years. He also lived in Minnesota and Lehr, ND where he served as Burgermeister (mayor) for 3 years. In 1956 he moved his family to Lodi and he opened a Flying A Gasoline Station. He retired from the United States Postal States as a letter carrier in 1986 after 23 years of employment. He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Mrs. Edna Berreth of Lodi; 2 sons, Gary Jams Michael Berreth of Lodi; Bruce Willis Berreth of Columbus, Georgia; 1 daughter, Sally Ann Pitto of Lodi; 1 sister, Ella Eserhut of Wisconsin; 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, William Berreth and Alan Hoff. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul Zimmermann officiating. A private family graveside will be held at Cherokee Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at Lodi Funeral Home on Tuesday 12:00 to 8 p.m. and Wed. 8 ? 9 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society 207 e. Alpine Stockton, CA 95204 or the St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Lodi, 2400 Oxford Way Lodi, CA 95240