Berta Lou Dietz

Sep 10, 1938 -

Jan 30, 2022

Berta Lou, age 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Anchorage, Alaska.

Berta Lou is survived by her adoring children, son, Drew; and daughters, Leslie, and Dana and husband Arne Handeland; grandsons, Jonah Van Gieson, Donald Kai and Erik Handeland; granddaughter, Diana Handeland; sister, Barbara Lee Coady; nephews, Layne Coady, Lee Shipman and wife Ruth, and Scott Shipman and wife Chris; niece, Diana (Deedee) Coomer; grand- and great-grandnieces and -nephews; and many cousins whom she remained especially close to.

Preceding her in death is her husband of 60 years, Donald Lee Dietz; parents, Bertha and Edward Pocock; parents-in-law, Marie and Emil Dietz; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Gene Shipman; and brother-in-law, Donald Coady.

Berta Lou is a Fifty-Year Medalist, an extreme honor that was awarded by the Joslin Diabetes Center of Boston in recognition of her 70 years of contributions to the science and research in juvenile onset diabetes and insulin therapies.

Berta Lou's career in sales, primarily for the Avon Company, spanned multiple states during the near 40 years that she received many Albee Awards as a member of the President's Club. She accompanied her husband during his Naval career, stationed at Ewa Beach and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Quonset Point, R.I.; NAS Glynco, Ga.; NAS Ault Field Whidbey Island, Wash.; Elmendorf Air Force Base; and then retiring and making their final home in Anchorage.

Berta Lou is a member of Central Lutheran Church and previous member of Anchorage Lutheran Church, where she spent many years devoted to supporting various church activities and global outreach ministries.

The family would like to thank Ancora Hospice, Drs. Virginia Murdock, Kathy Hurlburt and Darryl McClendon, Becky Libal, DNP and endocrinologist and longtime friend, Dr. Jeanie Bonar.

It was Berta Lou's wish to share a message of love and gratitude with everyone she met. She made those who knew her instantly feel better through her optimistic perspectives on life and how she lived her own. She asked that we let her family and friends know what a wonderful life she had and how grateful she is to those she knew for making her life happy and complete!

Services will be held at Central Lutheran Church, at 2:30 p.m., on Friday, June 17, 2022.