Alberta "Bertie" Chestnut passed away Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 73. She was a resident of Via Christi Village in Hays.

Alberta was born October 23, 1939 in Stockton, Kansas to Carl & Elizabeth (Huber) Trarbach. She graduated from Bogue High School in Bogue, Kansas.

On June 7, 1961 she married Dale Chestnut in Phillipsburg, Kansas. This union was blessed with four daughters and one son.

Alberta & Dale worked in partnership as US Mail Contractors. The couple later divorced and Bertie went on to work as a Certified Nurse's Aide in the Hays and Russell areas until her retirement.

Her hobbies included crafting, especially needlework, with many of her items being entered, judged and displayed at the Ellis County Fair. She was an avid collector of angels, who also enjoyed watching movies and listening to all kinds of music. Bertie's greatest joy was spending time with her family and celebrating special occasions.

Ironically, her passion for "angels" was an indication of the spirit within her, always putting others first and focusing on their happiness and comfort before her own. She had a kind, gentle
nature and a joyful appreciation for life, and left her heartprint on those she cared for as well as those who cared for her. She will be greatly missed by her friends, caretakers and family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Jennie Redmond and Dorothy Bradshaw; brothers, John and August Trarbach; and daughter, Melodie "Mel" Chestnut.

Survivors include her daughters, Michaela "Mickie" (Leo F.) Dreiling, Melinda Chestnut and Melissa (Kyle) Leiker, all of Hays, KS; son, Patrick Chestnut, also of Hays; sisters, Doris Lovelady of Hill City, KS and Betty Lamkin of Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren, Mandi Dreiling of Ellis, KS; Brittany Dreiling of Lacrosse, KS; Leo TJ Dreiling, Brandon (Katie) Mai, Trenton (Abbie) Mai, and Christy Leiker, all of Hays, KS; and great-granddaughters, Jacelyn Dreiling, Kadence and Paisley Mai, and Kylie Leiker.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, Sept. 20 at 10:30 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel with Pastor Joel Hiesterman officiating. Burial will follow in the Marvin Cemetery, Glade.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 9:00 Thursday with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the K.S.U. Center For Basic Cancer Research.