Lela was born in Viewfield, Meade, South Dakota, 27 Oct 1897. She was the fourth child, third daughter born to Alfred Davidson and Martha Anetta Horton Shrull. But she was the 10th child of Martha's. Martha had been married before and had 6 children. She grew up on a horse ranch. In her teen years she and her younger sisters with their father drove a herd of horses to North Dakota. It took them two weeks of camping on the open trail. Lela was married to Bernt Emil Berntson on 14 Feb 1918 in Glendive, Dawson, Montana. They had five children: Warden, Orval, Florence, John and Bernice. They were living in Hot Springs, Fall River, South Dakota at the time their youngest Bernice was born and her husband left in 1934-35 and she moved with her children to California in 1940 and worked as a seamstress to support her children. She then moved to Oregon in 1946, then three years later returned to California. In 1955 she was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1970 her home was burned to the ground and the church helped get her re-established. Then in 1971 she went through the San Fernando Valley earthquake. Her daughters moved her back to Oregon where she lived out her remaining life. She left her 5 children, 15 grand children and 11 great grandchildren. She was the last survivor of a family of 5 brothers and 6 sisters. Her older brother Ellis died just 8 days before her.
Lela was born in Viewfield, Meade, South Dakota, 27 Oct 1897. She was the fourth child, third daughter born to Alfred Davidson and Martha Anetta Horton Shrull. But she was the 10th child of Martha's. Martha had been married before and had 6 children. She grew up on a horse ranch. In her teen years she and her younger sisters with their father drove a herd of horses to North Dakota. It took them two weeks of camping on the open trail. Lela was married to Bernt Emil Berntson on 14 Feb 1918 in Glendive, Dawson, Montana. They had five children: Warden, Orval, Florence, John and Bernice. They were living in Hot Springs, Fall River, South Dakota at the time their youngest Bernice was born and her husband left in 1934-35 and she moved with her children to California in 1940 and worked as a seamstress to support her children. She then moved to Oregon in 1946, then three years later returned to California. In 1955 she was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1970 her home was burned to the ground and the church helped get her re-established. Then in 1971 she went through the San Fernando Valley earthquake. Her daughters moved her back to Oregon where she lived out her remaining life. She left her 5 children, 15 grand children and 11 great grandchildren. She was the last survivor of a family of 5 brothers and 6 sisters. Her older brother Ellis died just 8 days before her.
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