Bertie Lou (Arneson) McMeans, of Winthrop, went home to her lord, peacefully surrounded by family, on Oct. 13, 2014, after a brief illness. She was born June 21, 1930, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and moved to Winthrop in the late 1930s, where her family lived in a couple places before moving to the family farm in Mazama in 1941. She graduated from Winthrop High School in 1948, followed by nurses’ training in Spokane where she met her life’s love.
Bertie and Verlan W. McMeans were married Dec. 12, 1950, and they moved back to the Methow Valley in 1953, where they raised their four children and shared many years of happiness.
Bertie loved crafting and created many counted cross-stitch masterpieces and enjoyed the Tuesday gatherings at the Winthrop Barn, lovingly known as Stitch and Bitch. She also enjoyed reading, watching the Grand Ole Opry, visiting with family and friends, and her 17 years working at Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe. She will be greatly missed.
Bertie is survived by her husband, Mac, their children Wade (and Bev) McMeans, Carolyn (and Jerry) Ward, Leslie (and Tom) Echelbarger and Jo (and Ross) Eiffert, all in the Methow Valley; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three of her four sisters; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday (Oct. 25) at The Church on The Rise, 236 Twin Lakes Drive, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in Bertie’s name to The Wounded Warrior Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org or by mail at Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.
