Virginia Rose Bertelson

Virginia Rose (Witthar) Bertelson, 76, of Independence, MO, quietly passed away Thursday, June 14, 2007 at her daughter’s home after a brief illness. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 18, 2007 at Speaks Suburban Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 10-11:00 a.m. Burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lake Mary Home for Handicapped Children, 100 Lake Mary Dr., Paola, KS 66071. Virginia was born August 6, 1930 in Dover, MO to Leonard L. and Bertha M. (Hoeflicker) Witthar, the eighth of nine children. When the family relocated to Kansas City, she attended Holy Cross Catholic School and the Glennon Academy. She married Arne Cardell Bertelson from Parker, South Dakota in February of 1947. They were blessed with two daughters, Ingrid and Susan. Mrs. Bertelson attended Kansas City School of Cosmetology, and owned and operated her own business in Independence, “Virginia’s Beauty Salon” for more than 40 years. She loved her work, home, friends, painting, gardening, and traveling with her family. After caring for her husband for many years, she turned her attention towards spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately called her “Gi-Gi”. Virginia is survived by her daughters Ingrid B. Chandra and husband Dr. Mahesh Chandra, Susan Della Tarpenning and husband K. Joe Tarpenning; eight precious grandchildren, Kiran Chandra Ross and husband Ryan, Menaka Chandra Gladson and husband Seth, Vishal Arne Chandra, Pradeep A. Chandra, Anjali K. Chandra, Shelly Jo Tarpenning Straub, Sean C. Tarpenning, and Kristen R. Tarpenning; six beautiful great-grandchildren Tamerra, Elizabeth, Juan, Alex, Brayden and Henry; sisters Irene Wiley, Frances Moore and husband Ralph. She was preceded in death by her husband Arne Bertelson in 1994 and six siblings.