Bertha Valborg Townsend, age 103 of Austin, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 at Comforcare Good Samaritan Center in Austin.
Bertha was born July 14, 1905 in Sioux Falls, S.D. to Peter and Bina (Swenson) Nelson. She resided in Armour and Kimball, S.D., and for the last 60 years she lived in Austin.
 On Nov. 22, 1937, she married Roy Townsend in Casper, Wyo.  Bertha worked at Dickenson Bros. Deli until she was married in 1937.  After being married Bertha was a housewife.
 Bertha is survived by her nieces: Verna Odendahl, Woodstock, Ill. and Betty Blakeney, Woodstock; niece-in-law:  Pat Arvidson, Woodstock; Special friends: Annie Avery, Clarks Grove, Minn., and Ilene Cunningham, Austin.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 at Clasen-Jordan Chapel with Todd Portinga, AiM Officiating. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery in Austin at a later date.  Visitation will be for one hour before the service at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary.