Hertha fled Russia with her mother and siblings in the early 1940s. They were taken in by farmers in Gronau, Germany. At 9, she immigrated to Canada, joining relatives in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. After high school, Hertha became a teller at Niagara Credit Union. She attended Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute, where she met Victor. Returning to Ontario, she took a position with a bank, and shortly after being transferred to Winnipeg, she and Vic married. They farmed 5 years, then moved to Ontario, near her family. Hertha again worked part-time at the credit union, finding the fulfillment she claimed made her a better mother. She also did bookkeeping. After retiring, Hertha loved to volunteer at the Benefit Shop and Ten Thousand Villages. Her hands were never idle: she knit many afghans for loved ones and worthy causes. Hertha enjoyed skiing, playing tennis and walking the Bruce Trail. After 50 years of marriage, Hertha was diagnosed with colon cancer, already spread to her liver. She never complained, but was always thankful for the care she received.
