Berta Wagner

Berta Wagner, age 77, of Yankton, South Dakota and formerly of Hoskins, Nebraska died on Friday, October 6, 2023 at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral service will be 10:30 AM on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Yankton, South Dakota, with Pastor Thomas Rockhoff officiating.  Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton, South Dakota.  Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a prayer service at 8:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Price on Peace Lutheran Church in Yankton.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Myles Azevedo, Owen Azevedo, Brady Reeves, Connor Doyle, Cody Doyle, Colton Doyle, Shawn Bryde, Ty Rech and Nick Rech.  Honorary pallbearers will be all of her other grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Berta Alma Wagner was born to Harold and Igerna (Mullen) Baker on October 2nd, 1946 in Los Angeles, California. The family moved to Akron, Iowa where she spent most of her young childhood. She had fond memories of riding the train from Akron to Sioux City with her mom to shop and dine at Green Gables. This may have introduced her to her lifelong love of shopping.   In 1959, her family moved to Norfolk, Nebraska and she graduated from Norfolk Senior High in 1964.  She attended Stewart Beauty School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was a licensed beautician for several years.
 
In December 1965, she married the late Denny Reeves and had three children Shelly, Todd and Missy.  They divorced in 1980.  Berta married the love of her life, Randy Wagner, on April 8, 1983.  Berta spent most of her adult life in retail as a familiar face at Mid City Stereo, Marilyn’s Hallmark, and Lloyd’s Drug Mart.  In 2008, Lloyd’s Drug Mart recruited Berta to lead the company’s expansion to include a gift department. As buyer for the entire gift department her love of shopping came to full fruition. She and co-owner, Myrna Vincent, developed a wonderful friendship and ‘shopped until they dropped’ at yearly markets in San Francisco, Atlanta, Kansas City, and Toronto.  Her friendly smile and humor was a staple in the gift department. She retired from Lloyd’s in 2011.

Randy and Berta enjoyed many years on the farm until moving to Yankton and retiring in December 2021 where they own a beautiful condo that overlooks Gavin’s Point Dam, the lake, and river bluffs. Berta loved the view of sailboats, birds, turkeys, deer and sunsets reflecting off the bluffs.  

Berta and Randy enjoyed traveling to Aruba, Costa Rica, Alaska, and Florida spending numerous winters on the Gulf Coast, and fall trips to northern Wisconsin. They spent other time driving around looking at the scenery (most recently in a convertible), and going to see live music.   Her most treasured time was spending time with her kids and grandchildren playing games and cards, most recently losing with the six of spades from a call for pitch partner from her grandson. “If we’re going to Bomgaar’s we gotta get a big gulp” and her “wave of the Queen” are treasured memories. 

Berta and Randy were members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Yankton, SD. 

Berta is survived by her loving spouse of 40 years, Randy Wagner of Yankton, South Dakota; children: Shelly (Chad) Doyle of Stuart, Nebraska; Todd (Holly) Reeves of Omaha, Nebraska and Missy (Brian) Rech of Norfolk, Nebraska; grandchildren: Connor (Kaitlyn) Doyle, Cody (Cheyenne) Doyle, Colton Doyle and special friend Jacy, Abbey (Cody) Munyon, Myles Azevedo, Owen Azevedo, Olivia Azevedo, Brady Reeves, Anna Reeves, Dani Rech, Ty Rech, Nick (Brittni) Rech, Alison Bryde, and Shawn Bryde; great grandchildren: Joshua, Lilyanna, Athena, arrival of baby boy Munyon, Raleigh, Orion, Drucilla, Ozzy, Jack and Athea; and brother, Robert (Lynn) Baker of Norfolk. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Harold (Skip) Baker.