Bertha Sievers-Petitt

Bertha Lee Sievers-Petitt, age 88, of Nixa, passed away Friday, May 26, 2017, in her daughter's home. She was born November 28, 1928, in Bluffs, Illinois, the daughter of Thomas and Merle (Wiley) Bemis. Bertha grew up in Versailles, Illinois and moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she raised her family. Bertha worked as executive secretary for Marsh and McLennan Company in Kansas City. Bertha and her husband built and ran a KOA campground just east of Kansas City. After retiring, she and her husband Merle moved to Nixa. When Bertha became ill she lived with her daughter for the past four years. Bertha served on the Nixa Senior Center Board, and Christian County Coalition Tax Board. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Nixa and loved her Lord. Her family describes Bertha as a joy to everyone and lit up the room with her smile. She was very loving and was a wonderful mother and grandmother. Bertha was preceded in death by her first husband Merle Sievers, and was also preceded in death by husband Frank Traficanti, a grandson Benjamin, a sister Wilma Selle, and a brother Billy Bemis. Survivors include: her daughter, Rebecca Sievers of Nixa; her son, Bruce Sievers, his wife Beth of New Mexico; grandchildren, Joshua, Rachel, Nathan, and Abbey; a sister, Myra Devine; a sister-in-law Ferol Houston; a brother-in-law, Richard Selle, a former husband, Don Petitt and many nieces, nephews relatives and friends. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 31, 2017 from 10 AM - 11 AM, Adams Funeral Home, Nixa. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Wednesday, May 31, in Adams Funeral Home, Nixa. Burial will follow in Malta Bend Cemetery, Malta Bend, Missouri, at 3:00 PM on Wednesday. Donations in memory of Bertha may be made to First Baptist Church of Nixa