Bertha Ballantyne

Bertha V. Ballantyne

May 28, 1926 – September 5, 2017

Bert, Bertha, Mrs. B., Grams, Grandma, Mom, Mamacita, “Motho-Dear” started her life in a humble, two-bedroom, love-filled home in Ogden, Utah. At her birth the doctor said, “Oh, it looks like there is another one!” Mom and her twin brother were the 6th and 7th children born to Thomas and Christina Van Drimmelen, proud and hard-working Dutch immigrants, who taught their children to love the Lord, live the gospel, work hard and laugh a lot.

Mom graduated from Ogden High in 1944, attending high school during World War II.  Mom had three brothers who served in the war; she supported the war effort working at the Navy Supply Depot – a job she loved because she got to meet new people and be “on the go.”  Subsequently, she served an LDS mission in the Netherlands, riding the train from Ogden to New York City, and traveling by boat to Europe. After her mission she traveled through Europe and then returned home to Ogden.  Mom felt that her mission was one of the best things she ever did; she returned with a strong testimony of the gospel, which never wavered throughout her life.

After her mission, she was sealed to Wayne Robinson Ballantyne in the Salt Lake Temple and they began their family together.  They lived in Ogden, Northern California and Colorado but it wasn’t until Dad bought a home Fruit Heights, Utah, or “the toolies” to Mom, that they settled and raised their four children.   Mom was an incredibly strong woman who valued home and family above all else.    She opened her heart and home to all and many childhood friends think of her as their second mom.   She was a fun, loving, and protective mom.  When we crashed cars, she was concerned about us (not the damage).  She would wake up before dawn to join us as we got up early on trips to spotlight wildlife in wild places.  She was liberal in allowing us a diversity of pets, dogs of all sizes, birds of all kinds, fish (including octopus, piranha), reptiles (including alligator) and a crazy plant she trusted would not be smoked but her son was curious to see what it looked like.  She fondly reminisces on feeding baby pigeons through a straw when they needed foster care.  She managed the money (probably gave up on things she would have liked to have) to foster education, travel and toys.  She LOVED to shop for BARGAINS with her close friend Dorothy Larkin.

Mom had complete trust in the Lord; she was inquisitive and industrious and believed in service.   She taught us all that “you’re married a long time so do a few things first.”   She was very proud that Todd, Kris and Michele all served missions; she encouraged us to pursue education and travel.  She was delighted that we finally did settle down and gift her with the best grandchildren in the universe.  Above all, Mom taught us that no matter how hard we worked or how much we learned, Robyn our youngest sister with Down syndrome, would always be teaching us.

She is survived by her son Todd (Julie), daughters Kristen (Henry Reisig), Michele (Arthur Berger), and Robyn, and grandchildren, Kiera and Jenika Reisig; Nathan, Ben and Zach Berger, and Eli, Brendon and Lilla Ballantyne.

Funeral services will be Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the South Mountain Road Chapel, 901 S. Mountain Rd., Fruit Heights, Utah. Friends may visit family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the same Chapel, and Saturday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment, Lindquist's Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah.