Bertha Harper ^{1 2}

  Noted events in her life were:

• She was buried after 11 January 1945 in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Saint Marys, OH.

The gravestone for Elmer and Bertha Fast reads "FAST - Bertha, 1889-1945; Elmer W., 1888 - 1973".

Find A Grave Memorial #17014015
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• Her obituary was published in the unknown newspaper on 24 January 1945.

² Mrs. Bertha Harper Fast, daughter of Joseph and Julia Hoenie Harper, was born Nov. 19, 1889, in Mercer County. She lived in the Cridersville and Lima area for 28 years. In August 25, 1911, she was united in marriage to Elmer W. Fast, and together they shared the joys and mutually divided the care and perplexities of life until January 11, 1945, at 12 noon the final summons came to move out of the old tenement of clay into a mansion prepared for the saints and faithful ones. She was aged 55 years, one month and 23 days.

There is a real sense in which the faithfulness of His Saints can and will be known only when Christ comes to take up his jewels and reward them. It seems that she was conscious all thru the previous day that the time for her earthly was swiftly coming to a close. On the night before she had dreamed of a beautiful white ship coming to take her to a Beautiful Isle of Somewhere and she would not return. At the close of day she said to her companion "I have prayed all day." Shortly before she became unconscious she said she knew she was going to that beautiful home where none ever return and left a beautiful testimony to family and friends that all was well with her soul and was ready to go although she would like to live a little while longer with her family. "He that goeth forth and reapeth, bearing precious seeds shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him."

It can be truthfully said she was a faithful and devoted wife, a fond mother, living for her family and others. A Godly woman as her family and friends knew her to be. Not hiding her Christian life under a bushel but a shining light along life's way. She was baptized May 22, 1904 in the Lutheran Church, Muncie, Ind., and transferred her membership to the Cridersville Methodist Church, May 25, 1924.

Those who deeply feel her loss are:
a mother Mrs. Elmer Cook; her companion, Elmer W. Fast; three sons, Elmer W. Jr., Tampa, Fla., Ernie R. S 2-c Norfolk, VA., and Ross L. of Lima; four daughters, Mrs. Anthony (Mildred) Hangen of St. Marys; Mrs. Leo (Violet) Stiles, Wapakoneta R 6; Mrs. James (Kumah) Anspach, San Bernardino, CA., and Mrs. Ralph Schell (La Donna), Exeter, Neb.; 10 grandchildren and many other relatives, neighbors and friends. A son Clyde Dale, preceded her in death. There is a sense in which family and friends feel their loss so keenly that they forget the joy and gladness into which their loved ones have entered, but may God's grace be sufficiently given that our sorrow and grief may be tempered with a large measure of pathos that will enable us to say "Thy will be done."

As we think of her last prayer may we think of these words.
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, Lead me on,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn-
Thru the storm, thru the night
Lead me on to the light,
Take my hand precious Lord, Lead me home.
My way grows drear precious Lord
Linger near, Linger near,
My life is almost gone-
Hear my call, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I should fall
Take my hand precious Lord, Lead me home-
The darkness appears and the night draws near.
And the day is past and gone.
At the river now I stand.
Guide my feet, hold my hand,
Take my hand precious Lord-
and Lead me home.

(Source: unknown newspaper, 24 Jan 1945)
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Bertha married Elmer William Fast, son of William H. Fast and Mary Malinda Fowler, on 25 August 1911. (Elmer William Fast was born on 19 December 1888 in , Mercer County, OH,³ died on 12 March 1973 in Saint Petersburg, FL ³ and was buried on 14 March 1973 in Saint Marys, OH ³.)