Ball, Gertrude Marion
Birth
Gertrude M. Ball was born on October 13,1916 at Berne, Albany County, NY. Her parents were Clyde L. Ball and Alta Mae Sholtes Ball. With her older sister, Alberta Ball, Gertrude and family were then living in the Wood house in Berne village. In 1920, the family moved over to the Ball farm on Switzkill Road where she grew up.
Education
She attended local elementary schools, including the red brick school no. 14 at the corner of Switzkill and Ravine Rds., and the Schoharie High School. She graduated from Oneonta Normal School, a school for teachers.
Occupation
She received her teaching assignment in the Catskills, but chose instead to marry Rev. Franklin Deitz of Berne who was the pastor of the Prattsville Reformed Church, Prattsville, Green County, NY. The role of a minister's wife was a fulfilling role for her. After Franklin retired from the parish ministry in 1975, Gertrude and Franklin returned to Berne and lived on the Ball farm for over 23 years. Gertrude was a member of the First Reformed Church in Berne, the Hilltowns Senior Citizens, and the Berne Historical Society.
Marriage & Children
Gertrude married Rev. Franklin Deitz on October 20, 1938 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Berne where her family had attended. She was active in their church ministries at Prattsville Reformed, Green County, NY; Second Reformed of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, NY; and a dual pastorate at Lawyersville and Sharon Reformed Churches, Schoharie County, NY. They had three children:
- Allan Franklin Deitz who was born on November 24, 1940 at Albany, NY. He married Betty Ann Hesselink at Waupun, Wis. on 24 Aug. 1962. He graduated from Hope College, Holland, Mich. They have two daughters, Jennifer and Karen.
- Arlene Gertrude Deitz who was born on October 3, 1943 at Albany, NY. She married Rev. James Clark on 16 Jul 1966. She graduated from Hope College, Holland, Mich. They have a son, David.
- Gerald Roger Deitz who was born on October 4, 1948 at Bellevue Maternity Hospital, Schenectady, NY. He graduated from Johnson State College in Vermont.
Death
Gertrude died on April 16, 2008 at the Guilderland Center Nursing Home at the age of 91. She was buried on April 19, 2008 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Berne, Albany County, NY.
Obituary
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