Obituaries

A service to celebrate Bertha's life will take place on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 4:00 PM in the Dannel Funeral Home Chapel. She will then be buried at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, TX on July 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

Bertha was born April 15, 1933 in Hugo Oklahoma. Her siblings include her oldest sister Thelma Neitch Vanderhoof (deceased), Nedra Neitch (Santizo), and younger brother Carl Neitch. She learned to drive a standard on the farm at age 14. Her father Ned Neitch and mother Iva Neitch eventually relocated to Oregon in the late 1940’s for better opportunities.

Melton Wayne Baker, whom she would later marry, met in Hugo and attended high school together. After high school Bertha moved to Oregon with her parents but did not stay. In 1952 she boarded a train from Oregon to Fort Worth, Texas where her soon to be husband was stationed in the U.S. Army. He was sent to Korea and she lived with his mother and aunts. Upon his return from the Korean War they were married in 1952. They returned to Oregon for a short period of time.

Melton rejoined the Army and thus began their worldly adventures. In the military they were stationed all over the United States and Europe. They traveled from California to Texas to Pennsylvania and more. In 1955 they began their first tour of duty in Germany where Bertha began her love of Military life. She became the consummate Army wife and loved every minute of it. This tour of duty was followed by many others including Denton, Texas - Waco, Texas - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1968 they returned to Germany for a second tour of duty, but this time as an officer. Bertha became the perfect officers wife while attending and participating in officers wives activities. She was praised by everyone.

In 1972 they returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, USA for their final destination. Bertha went to work at the Fort Bliss Credit Union where she eventually retired. After her husbands’ death in 2000 she began volunteer work with the Society of Military Widows assisting veterans in many different ways including attending funerals of homeless veterans, preparing food and providing support.

In 2018, unable to live on her own, she moved to Gordonville, Texas to live with her daughter.

She is survived by her daughter Cheryl (daughter), Timothy (son), Neidra (sister), Carl (brother) and grandchildren William and Christine. She will be interred with her husband at the Fort Bliss Military Cemetery. A beautiful reunion.