Bertie L. Fitzharris, 89, St. Cloud

December 17, 1925 - December 26, 2014

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. Cloud for Bertie L. Fitzharris, age 89, of St. Cloud who passed away Friday at St. Benedict’s Senior Community. Bishop Tom Walsh will officiate and burial will be in Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud. Visitation will be 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2014 at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, St. Cloud and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Bertie was born on December 17, 1925 to Ross and Bernice (Carver) Smith in Idaho Falls, ID. On May 9, 1944 she married James “Fitz” Fitzharris in California. Bertie and Jim relocated to St. Cloud where they owned and operated Fitzharris Athletic. Bertie’s role in the company was completing the engraving of awards and trophies which she was able to mostly do at home. Bertie was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she was active with genealogy research for her own family, church members, and the area community. Bertie enjoyed spending time at the St. Cloud Country Club, playing both tennis and golf. Jim and Bertie were a strong competitive team, winning the Mr. and Mrs. Tournament so often that the tournament was later renamed the Jim and Bertie Fitzharris Open. In addition to Country Club activities, she was an outstanding bowler, earning a seat in the Minnesota Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame, rolling countless 600 series, and she made an appearance on the TV show Bowlerama. Bertie also was an avid collector. Her collections included clowns, bells, thimbles, golf balls, and spoons, but most notably, her famous Santa collection numbered well over six hundred figurines of the jolly old elf.

Bertie is survived by her children, Terri Hochstetler of White Bear Lake, Mark of Sauk Rapids, Lee (Bonnie) of St. Cloud, and Pat of Aspen, CO; grandchildren, Michael (Susan), Dan, and Kari Hochstetler, Jill (Dave) Smith, Jennifer (Brian) Funk, Jackie (Russ) Eiynck, Valerie (Eric) Patrick, Christopher, Leslie (Rick) Wildtraut; 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James “Fitz”; parents, and siblings, Ralph and Lois.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the charity of your choice.