Bertha Julia (Tohkanen) Pelkonen
Bertha Julia (Tohkanen) Pelkonen, our beloved mother and grandmother, passed away
peacefully at home on Friday, October 31, 2025 in Lantana, Florida. She had celebrated her
100 th birthday on May 5, 2025.

Bertha Julia Tohkanen was born May 5th, 1925 in the small farm town of Spencer, New
York; to her mother Olga (Martilla) Tohkanen and Father Alfred Tohkanen, both immigrants
from Finland. She was predeceased by her sister, Kaarina Tohkanen Aho and brother, George
Tohkanen.

Bertha married Edwin Pelkonen in 1959 and is survived by her daughter, Kristine Pelkonen
Wilson and Michael Wilson (son-in-law) and Bertha’s two grandchildren, Kurt Wilson and Kara
Wilson.

Bertha was born and raised on a dairy farm where she learned a hard work ethic and a love
for the outdoors. After graduating from Spencer Central High School, Bertha received her
Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from East Stroudsburg State Teacher’s
College in 1948. While in college, she participated in a variety of team sports including field
hockey, basketball and gymnastics.

Upon graduating she ventured to Oregon for a teaching position at Mc Kenzie High and then
Willamette High school where she taught girls physical education and coached the girls
tumbling, volleyball and softball until 1955. In efforts to be closer to her family that had
relocated to Palm Beach County, in 1955 she took a teaching job at Martin County High School
in Stuart, Florida.

In 1956, she began teaching at Seacrest High School in Delray Beach, Florida where she
continued to teach girls’ physical education. She founded, organized and mentored the Girls
Athletic Association at Seacrest High which provided leadership and sport participation
opportunities for high school girls prior to the implementation of Title IX. In 1970, Seacrest
High became Atlantic Community High School. Over the years, she also served as supervisor to
the yearbook, to the cheerleaders and taught civics.

Not only could she explain the various athletic activities that she taught, but she could also
demonstrate and perform the skills, especially in the sport of gymnastics with vaulting and floor
exercise. Her excellent instruction techniques inspired many young women to remain physically
active throughout their lives and inspired many female students to pursue careers in education,
sport and health related professions. Years later, many students have maintained contact with
her. Her professional accomplishments were recognized in 1999 at her alma mater when she was
inducted into the East Stroudsburg University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bertha retired from teaching in 1983 from Palm Beach County School District after 34 years
of teaching. In her retirement, she and Eddie were very involved members of the Lantana Lions
Club, an international service organization, focusing on sight conservation, supporting programs
for the visually impaired and community involvement. Bertha helped organize many fundraising
projects like fashion shows and luncheons, card parties, rummage sales, dances and dinners. She
oversaw the Halloween and Christmas parties for community children while serving in many
different officer positions from Ways and Means to Club President. She was awarded Melvin
Jones Fellow, the highest recognition from Lions Clubs International, honoring individuals for
their outstanding humanitarian service and dedication to the organization’s mission.

In retirement, she and Eddie also became involved in the Town and Country Garden Club of
Lake Worth Beach, joining in 1984 when the club met in ‘Circles’ at member’s homes These
Circles joined to become the Town and Country Garden Club to promote the love of gardening,
environmental stewardship, education and community beautification. In her 40 years of service,
Bertha served in many club positions including president multiple times and parliamentarian. As
a member of the Ways and Means committee she helped organize fundraising events like the
Garden Club’s Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon and fundraising card parties. She
participated in many Arbor Day tree planting events and the Club’s work with local elementary
students establishing garden boxes to teach them skills and an appreciation of planting and
growing. With Eddie being a proud World War II veteran, she was passionate about the Club’s
sponsorship of the City of Lake Worth Beach’s Constitution Park and annual Memorial Day
observance. She organized the Memorial Day Service for years on behalf of the Garden Club.
She enjoyed attending Master Gardener workshops at the Mounts building and meticulously kept
a large garden herself that included orchids and fruit trees.

Bertha enjoyed years of ballroom dancing with Eddie at the local dance halls, worldwide
traveling, watching coverage of professional and college sports, attending local theater and
symphonic concerts, maintaining her large garden and participating in fitness classes
(yoga/Zumba/Curves) well into her senior years. It will be remembered that as a parent she never
missed the opportunity to be first in line for front row seating to her young daughter’s school
performances nor would she miss her opportunity to attend her grandchild’s’ school concerts,
recitals or band MPA events. As a teacher and as a mother, Bertha taught strength and resilience.
She was strong and independent. True to her Finnish culture, she lived her life with Sisu. Sisu is
the Finnish concept representing a unique blend of stoic determination, tenacity, resilience, and
courage to act with extraordinary grit against all odds. It’s the philosophy of finding the inner
strength to get things done. Bertha lived her life full of Sisu.

Those wishing to honor Bertha are asked to make a memorial donation to Town & Country
Garden Club of Lake Worth Beach, Claire Heiser Trust which provides academic scholarships to
students in environmental science studies. Donations can be mailed to Town & Country Garden
Club c/o Kristine Wilson 420 North 5th Street, Lantana, FL 33462