Bertha Leikam Kuhn will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Senior Citizen’s Center, 2005 Kansas Avenue, hosted by her family. Friends and family are invited. No gifts please.
Bertha was born on a farm near Catharine on Dec. 24, 1921, to Bertha and Alois Leikam. She was raised in Catharine. Bertha graduated from Girl’s Catholic High School in Hays in 1940. While attending high school, she stayed during the week with her great aunt in Hays. It was too far to travel the nine miles home to Catharine each day. In the summer of 1940, she met her future husband, William (Bill) Kuhn at a
dance at the Gala Gardens in Hays. They were married at Ellis on Oct. 6, 1941 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Bertha became a full-time homemaker and farm wife. In 1957, the family moved to Great Bend from south of Ellis. They always said moving to Great Bend was the best move they ever made. Bill and Bertha enjoyed dancing throughout their married lives. It was a joy to watch them polka around the dance floor. Bill died on Sept. 20, 1992.
Bertha loves spending time with her family, and playing bridge, dominoes, pitch, and pinochle.
Bertha’s children are daughter-in-law, Norma Kuhn of Great Bend, Bob (Barb) Kuhn of Timberlake, S.D., Jim Kuhn, Judy (Jim) Krebaum,  and Tony (Pam) Kuhn, all of Great Bend, and Susan (Herb) Rouse of Broken Arrow, Okla. Her oldest son, Bill, passed away in Feb. 2009. An infant daughter, Mary, and an infant son, Joseph, died at birth. Bertha has 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.
Cards may be sent to her at 3110 Williams, Great Bend, KS 67530.