Bertha "Bert" Paupst, 71, of Grand Forks, ND passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, after a sudden illness, in Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.

Bertha Christine Cost was born on April 20, 1952, in Fordville, ND the daughter of Victor and Dolly (Rebhahn) Cost. She grew up in Inkster, ND and attended the Inkster Public School through the 8th grade and graduated from Midway High School in 1970. Following her graduation, Bertha began her working career as a civil servant at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. She was then employed with Western Potato in Grand Forks, which later became J.R. Simplot until 2001. From there she went to the Grand Forks Airport Authority until she retired in November 2021.

While working at Western Potato, she met Robert Paupst in 1971. Robert and Bertha were married on December 1, 1972, and were married for 45 years.  They lived in Grand Forks with their three beloved Pomeranians until they moved to the Kelly Slough area and had three children, David, Sheri, and Robert "BJ". In 1984, they moved to Mekinock, ND.  Robert preceded her in death on July 5, 2017.

She had many hobbies including riding motorcycles and was an avid reader of good mystery/romance novels. She also enjoyed television game shows, old sitcoms and crime shows.  Most of all, Bert loved her husband and children.  After her grandson, Donovan was born, the two were inseparable on weekends and made quite the pair.

Bert became a social butterfly visiting with family and friends over coffee and a good game of cards. She never turned down a three-hour road trip to Minot, ND to visit her daughter, Sheri, for a fun afternoon playing Bingo. Later in life, Bert became a cat lover and over the years spent many hours watching television with her faithful cat companion, Thomas by her side.  Bert has touched many lives with her engaging smile, her warm heart and beautiful soul. She'll be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.  The world is a little darker place without her bright shining face.

She is survived by her children, David Paupst and his longtime girlfriend, Kathryn "Kat" Kaml and her daughter, Keeli Kaml, Grand Forks ND, Sheri Ketcher and her fiancé, Daniel Snyder, Flaxton, ND, Robert "BJ" Paupst and his longtime girlfriend, Jesse Garrison Mekinock ND;  her siblings, Vicki (Steve) Lofthus, Manvel ND, Gene (Linda) Cost, Emerado ND, Julie (Darrell) Ekberg, Manvel ND, Don Cost, Grand Forks, ND a brother-in-law, Douglas Kamrowski, Grand Forks ND; a grandson, Donovan and his mother, Andrea Finck, Grand Forks ND; 9 nieces and nephews, Jeff, Gene Jr., Amanda, Theresa, Jen, Danial, Danica, DeAuna, Daunisha and 21 great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Victor and Dolly Cost; her husband, Robert E Paupst; a sister, Judy Kamrowski and a niece, Janelle Ekberg.

The family wishes to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support.   Please, join us for lunch immediately following the memorial service.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2024, in the Historic Norman Funeral Home Chapel.
Family Greeting: One hour prior to the service in the funeral home on Saturday.
Interment: In the spring of 2024, in the Inkster Cemetery, Inkster, ND.