An American Family History

Viola Belle Long Bertrand O'Dea was born in Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois on December 23, 1870. Her parents were Thomas Long and Louisa Taylor.

She married Joseph Bertrand in August, 1887 when she was seventeen. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on Joseph and Viola Bertrand.

Her husband, Joseph, died in April, 1910. In 1913 she lived at 223 North Grand Street in Chariton. After that she moved to North Dakota to be near her parents and sisters.

She married James F. O’Dea on April 15, 1918 in Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota when she was 47 and he was 52. He may be the same James O'Dea who married Etta Fox.

Word has been received here of the marriage of Mrs. Viola Bertrand of Braddock, N. D. to Mr. James F. O'Dea of Bismark, N. D. April 15, 1918. Mrs. Bertrand was a former resident of this city and a sister of Mrs. [Clara] Todd Lane. Mr. O'Dea is assistant state manager of the Woodman of the World for North and South Dakota and they will make their home in Bismarck.

She lived in Braddock, Emmons County, North Dakota until her death. She passed away of valvular heart disease and chronic nephritis in the hospital in Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota on Monday, April 21, 1919 when she was 48 years old. She was buried with her parents at the Napoleon Cemetery in Napoleon, Logan County, North Dakota. She was also remembered on her husband, Joseph Bertrand’s tombstone in the Chariton cemetery.

FUNERAL OF MRS. O’DEA HELD HERE FRIDAY

The remains of Mrs. O'Dea, nee Mrs. Bertrand formerly of this city but whom for the past two years has resided at Braddock were tenderly laid at rest at the Napoleon cemetery last Friday afternoon.

From this week’s issue of the Braddock News we clip the following obituary notice: Following an illness of over five months, Mrs. J. F. O’Dea, a prominent woman of this place and of Napoleon passed away at the hospital in Bismarck Monday April 21, at about 4:00 o’clock a.m. and was laid to rest in the family lot in Napoleon cemetery. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. A. L. Stowell and by the Woodmen Circle at the cemetery.

Viola Long was born in Illinois, December 23rd, 1870 and died at Bismarck April 21, being 48 years, 3 months and 29 days old at the time of her death. Her early life was spent in Illinois where she attended school, later moving to Chariton and Des Moines, Iowa.

In August, 1887, she was united in marriage to Joseph Bertrand who died April 18, 1910. To this union were born eight children, Mrs. J. Metela, Mrs. D.A. Higgins, Merle and Laura of this place, Mrs. C.H. Shimp of Des Moines, Ia. Mrs. J.E. Smith of Omaha, Neb. and two children who died in infancy.

On the 15th day of April, 1918 she was again married to J.F. O’Dea at Aberdeen, S.D. who survives her.

Besides the above children she leaves three sisters, Mrs. R.E. Shafer of Napoleon, Mrs. Todd Lane of Chariton, Ia, and Mrs. O.M. Vie of this place and one brother, F. M. Long who resides here and a large number of friends to mourn her loss.