Bernita M. Forth, 97, of Morrison, IL, died Friday, March 17, 2023, at Homestead of Morrison, in Morrison.
Bernita was born October 18, 1925, in Sterling, IL, to Lester H. and Vera Bernice (James) Conrady. She was educated in the James School of rural Whiteside County, and was a 1943 graduate of Morrison High School. On March 25, 1944, she married Donald L. Forth in her parents’ home in rural Morrison. He died November 9, 2009. Bernita farmed along with Don in the Morrison area for 40 years. She was a member of the Morrison United Methodist Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher and participated in the women’s circle. She was a 4-H leader for the Clyde Teamworkers. Bernita enjoyed ceramics, sewing, and many other crafts.
Survivors include her daughters, Nancy (Rob) Graham of Warrensburg, MO, and Nola Leslein of Dubuque, IA; sons, Keith (Pat) Forth of Antioch, IL, and Kent (Kathy) Forth of Morrison; nine grandchildren, Shea (Meghan) Leslein, Laura (James) Ward, Tara (Paul) Thuriot, Audrey Forth, Anthony (Maggi) Forth, Brian Forth, Kevin (Katie) Forth, Kelly Forth, Kurt (Erin) Forth; 13 great-grandchildren, Thomas, Wil, Sophie, and Emmy Leslein, Kaylee and Alexa Ward, Collin Thuriot, Brooklyn and Addison Forth, Kendall and Kale Forth, Aiden and Andrew Forth.
Bernita was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; sons-in-law, Tom Leslein and Phil Leslein; sister, Virginia Miller; brother, James Conrady.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2023, at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Sun-Ah Kang.
A Visitation will precede the service, starting at 10:00 a.m.
Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison, IL.
A memorial to Morrison United Methodist Church has been established.