Lucinda Lou “Cindy” Bertsch, 84 of Devils Lake ND passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in the care of HIA (Hospice) surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral Services for Cindy will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Scott Ramey officiating. Burial will be in Lawton Cemetery in the spring.

Lucinda Lou, daughter of Basil James and Iva Marie (Olson) Legacie was born on July 30, 1941, in Ramsey County, North Dakota. Cindy grew up in the Lawton area, attending a one-room schoolhouse for a few years then school in Lawton. She was a baptized and confirmed member of Lawton Lutheran Church.

Cindy worked as a hired girl for neighbors and area farmers for a few years until her marriage to her sweetheart Joseph Bertsch on May 28, 1960, in Starkweather, ND. They moved into Devils Lake for a short time, but Joe’s job as a lineman meant a move to Colorado and later South Dakota.

They eventually moved back to the Lake Region area, and for over 20 some years on a farm north of Devils Lake. Here they lived, worked, and raised their family of six children. Cindy was never idle. She worked as a cook at the Hampden Café, then as a CNA at the Edmore Memorial Rest Home, Lutheran Home, Mercy Hospital, and the Good Samaritan Center all in Devils Lake. She retired from the Odd Fellows Home where she worked as a cook and in the laundry department. She was in her late 70’s when she retired. She was a dedicated, hard-working employee wherever she was employed. She was loved by everyone.

For most working full-time and raising six children would take up most of a person’s time, but not Cindy. She always cared for a large garden from planting, to weeding, to harvesting, to processing the fruits of her labor. She loved to bake and her specialty was banana bread. Everyone had a freezer full, so they were always prepared for an emergency. She was the ultimate animal lover, any animal! She had milk cows, miniature cows, chickens, birds, cats, dogs, horses, any creature that strayed into the yard, she took care of them.

Family meant everything to Cindy. They were her pride and joy, the apple of her eye. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, caring grandmother, and great grandmother. She treasured her siblings, nieces and nephews.

Cindy spent her life caring for others—family, neighbors, animals, and anyone who needed a steady hand—and in doing so, she taught her children and grandchildren what compassion truly looks like. In her footsteps, her children and grandchildren learned the life lessons she lived every day.

Cindy’s loving family include her husband Joe of over 65 years; children Steve (Paula) Bertsch, Sheila (Kevin) Simms, Shawn (Shelly) Bertsch, Stacy (Sheri) Bertsch all of Devils Lake, Shannon (Jeffrey) Anderson of Hamar, Samantha Bertsch, also Devils Lake; grandchildren Melanie (Kurt), Amanda (Mike), Nikki, Natasha, Eric: Lindsy (Christopher), Megan (Matt): Shane (Morgan): Marissa, Kayla (Dale), Shania: Jena (Andrew), Mariah (Coleman); many great grandchildren; siblings Basil Jr., “Bud” (Lois) Legacie, Lawton ND, Jeannette Koyle, Minneapolis, Edith “Edie” Legacie, California, Pam Rodacker, Chaseley, ND; many precious nieces, nephews and their families.

Cindy was reunited with her parents, siblings Duane Legacie, Richard “Dick” Legacie, Douglas Legacie, Barbara Plunkett, Irene Severson and Leslie and James Legacie in infancy, in-laws Paul and Catherine Bertsch.