----Sources: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 10/12/1928

Berry, Belle (2 OCT 1855 - 8 OCT 1928)

Mrs. John Berry died Monday afternoon, Oct. 8 and was buried Thursday afternoon, Oct 12, at 2 p.m. from the Little White Church, Rev. P. F. Walter officiating. Interment took place in cemetery south of town, S. J. Andrew and E.M. Sorenson, George Koehn, Hy. Froland, and J. H. Johnson acting as pallbearers.

Belle Anderson was born in Norway, Oct. 2, 1855, and was 73 years and 6 days of age at time of death. In 1875 she came to the United States, going to Madison, Wis.; in 1879 she came to Dorchester, Clark County and the same years she was united in marriage to John Berry. Seven children were born to them, three of whom preceded the mother in death.

Mrs. Berry was in bed about 5 months before her death, but her sick room was a benediction to all who entered, for her sweet manner and calm faith in her Master gave one strength to go forth to do just a little better than before.

She was a charter member of the First Baptist Church of Dorchester, and besides being a pioneer of Dorchester Country, was a pioneer of the church life in the community and her prayers and work helped to keep alive that spark of spiritual inspiration so needful to a live church. The outstanding interest in Mrs. Berry’s life was the love for her church and her family. No sacrifice was too great for her in either case as all who knew her can testify and her sunny smile and sweet cheerfulness left an indelible impression on the heart and lives of all who knew and loved her. Her name is a synonym for perfect contentment, for long ago she learned, as the Apostle Paul, to be content in whatever state she was in.

Mother Berry was a faithful wife, an ideal mother, and loving grandmother, as well as a kind friend and Christian neighbor and of her it can well be said, "She hath done what she could."

"Here in an inn a stranger dwelt,

Here joy and grief by turns she felt,

Poor dwelling, now we close the door

The task is o’er,

The sojourner returns no more."

She returns no more but we are glad, for to her has come the larger, fuller life, where no sorrow or pain can ever come.

She leaves to mourn her loss her aged husband, John Berry, four children, two sons, Ed Berry of Chicago, Ill., and Wm. Berry of Abbotsford, and two daughters, Mrs. Anna Nelson at home, and Mrs. E. J. Callahan of Chicago, eight grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Hauge, living one mile west of town.

Those from away who were here for the funeral were her children and Wm. Berry’s wife and children of Abbotsford, Mrs. Anna Nelson’s daughters, Leone, Myrna and Eunice of Chicago, E. J. Callahan of Chicago, Mrs. Walter Hoffman of Stevens Point, Mrs. Henry Lutz of Mellen, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Laveen of Abbotsford, Mrs. Wesley Stevens and son, S. L. Sorenson of Superior, and Mrs. Chas. Odin and son, John of Minneapolis.

The Clarion joins with the host of friends in extending sympathy to the bereaved ones.