EX-MERCHANT DIES AT 71

Martin Bertelsen Was Grocer Here; Lutheran Funeral Rites

Martin A. Bertelsen, 71, long on the Blair business scene prior to his retirement, died Saturday evening at Good Shepherd Home here after a lengthy illness.

The body was removed to the Bendorf Funeral Hom. Services were held at the Home, with Dr. J.P. Nielsen in charge, on Tuesday, followed by rites at 2pm at First Lutheran Church by the Rev. H.C. Jorgensen. Burial was in Blair Cemetery. Six nephews were pallbearers.

Mr. Bertelsen, son of the Rev. and Mrs. H.P. Bertelsen, was born Nov. 1, 1883 at Marysville, Kan., but came to Nebraska as a child and spent most of his life in and near Blair. He and Laura Andreasen of Kennard were married Oct. 5, 1910.

Mr. Bertelsen was once a rural mail carrier out of Blair, and also farmed for a number of years. Later he opened a café in Blair, after which he was owner of the Bertelsen Market, located on the site of the present Home Furniture & Appliance.

Later he was employed for a time at the Blair Port of Entry. Mrs. Bertelsen died June 16, 1946. Surviving Mr. Bertelsen are two sisters, Miss Sena Bertelsen of Blair and Mrs. I.M. Andersen (Ella) of Staplehurst, Nebr., also a number of nephews and nieces.

#2 Note: If These Bricks Could Talk, by Donna Henton Volume 1, page 241 - his store 1605 Washington (now 2023 west half of ABB or Fastwyre)

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogy Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave #113989629