Berta Yvonne (Brown) Van Diest was born March 24, 1931 in Prairie View, KS to Burton & Marguerite (Goeken) Brown and passed away Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at Logan Manor in Logan, KS at the age of 81 years young.

She attended elementary and high school in Prairie View, graduating with the class of 1949. Following graduation she worked at Van Diest Brothers Wholesale before attending Fort Hays State University for a year. In 1952 she enrolled at Kansas State University in Manhattan, where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She was a proud KSU graduate in 1955, earning a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics.

Berta was united in marriage with her longtime sweetheart, Tommie Van Diest, on February 12, 1955. The couple had a "true" love for each other and cherished the 57 years of marriage they had together.

Berta was a devoted wife to her husband, "Van" and loving mother to her three children, Michael Scott, Karen Faith and Krista Yvonne. She was very proud of her home and family. Many Sunday dinners were enjoyed around their table with friends and relatives.

In addition to her role as a homemaker, Berta was a teacher for several years, serving the Bogue, Phillipsburg, Prairie View and Logan schools. She was very dedicated to her students and loved the time she was able to spend with them. Not surprisingly, she became known as "Aunt Berta" to many of her former students.

She was a member of the Prairie View United Methodist Church, later transferring to the Prairie View Reformed Church. Berta was actively involved in her church, teaching Bible class and Sunday school for several years. She was also a member of Eastern Star.

Berta loved people and never knew a stranger. She treasured her many friendships throughout the years. Everybody knew "the coffeepot was always on" at Berta's house.
She will be deeply missed by friends, neighbors, and especially her family; "We'll love you, forever, Mom."

Preceding her in death were her parents; daughter, Karen Faith; brother, B.J.; sister, Mila & husband, Bill Kimel; brothers-in-law, Ron Snyder and Kenneth Beck; brother's-in-law & sister's-in-law, Roy & Faith Van Diest and Doris & Wib Van Diest; sister-in-law, Jeanette Winder and her husbands, Jerry Rickey and Norman Winder.

Funeral services will be held Sat., Aug. 18, at 2:00 p.m. in the Prairie View Reformed Church with Pastor Joel Hiesterman, Jay Brandon and Glen Graham officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thurs. & Fri. from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends Friday evening from 7 – 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer's Association, Prairie View Reformed Church or the Prairie View Community Center.