Bertha Sorensen, Beloved Matriarch, San Luis Valley Fixture and Hero Dies at 89.
August 9, 2015
Bertha Sorensen, a long-time Alamosa resident and Real Estate maven passed away peacefully late Sunday night after a brave fight against heart disease. She was 89.
Remembered locally for her kindness, her elegant sense of style, and her disregard of local speed limits; Bertha left a lasting impression on all she met.
Respect for herself and and others was her core defining value. She developed her trademark courtesy as a child of Volga German immigrants, born in 1926 in Sugar City, Colorado. She was the fourth of six children born to Johan and Susan Yergert (neé Moor). Although English was not the primarily spoken language in the Yergert household, Bertha excelled in her studies winning the Colorado State Spelling Bee at age 12. Her quick wit and keen memory helped secure her a place at University of Northern Colorado with hopes of becoming a schoolteacher. She attended only two years as family obligations put her education on hold.
Returning to her childhood home of La Junta, Bertha met and married Merle Jeppesen in 1948. They have four children: James, Olinda, Fred and Tony. Merle passed away suddenly in 1965.
She secured a coveted position at the United States Post Office as a female mail carrier – the first of her kind in the state of Colorado. Through hard work and perseverance, she rose to the level of Postmaster. In 1977, she met and married Mr. Donald Sorensen. They made their home in Antonito, Colorado where she served as Postmaster for more than a decade. Mr. Sorensen passed away in 1989.
Bertha’s first “retirement” lasted less than the summer of 1991. She quickly leveraged her charm to break into the real estate market where she had a successful run as a local agent. She was still selling properties at 87 years of age. During this time, she met Mr. Sam Snider with whom she formed a close relationship until his death in 2007.
Bertha was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and was an active volunteer. She often gave her time to the Colorado Welcome Center in downtown Alamosa. She was an active member of several San Luis Valley charitable organizations. For the last two years of her life, she resided at The Bridge at Alamosa Assisted Living community where she was active in resident social circles.
Bertha’s quiet heroism during the trials of her young motherhood touched all of those who will survive her. Generations of grateful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren owe their happy lives to her graceful dignity and unwavering courage.
Bertha is survived by three children and their spouses: Olinda and John Nevonen of Rifle, Colorado, James and Melanie Jeppesen of Alamosa Colorado, and Tony Jeppesen of Denton, Texas. She is survived by her four grandchildren: Amy Jeppesen or Seattle, Washington; Sam Miille of New York, New York; Michael Miille of New York and Amanda Jeppesen of Denton, Texas as well as two great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is survived by a sister, Betty Fleming of Canon City, Colorado.
She is preceded in death by her siblings, Paul Yergert, Herman Yergert, Martha Sturges, Elsie Fleming as well as her son, Fred Jeppesen and her husbands Merle Jeppesen and Donald Sorensen and her long time companion Sam Snider.
There will be a visitation at Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa, Colorado on Friday, August 14 from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. A committal service will be held at the La Jara Cemetery in La Jara, Colorado on Saturday August 15, 2015 at 9:00A.M. with a Memorial Service to follow at 10:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 52 El Rio Drive, Alamosa, Colorado.

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