AJR26,1,32 Whereas, Sister Thomas More Bertels, OSF, Ph.D., was born Louise Noel
3Bertels on January 18, 1918, in Ironwood, Michigan; and

AJR26,1,64 Whereas, in 1939 she entered Holy Family Convent in Manitowoc, Wisconsin,
5and in 1942 professed as a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity accepting the
6religious name of Thomas More; and

AJR26,1,107 Whereas, academically Sister earned the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Masters
8of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy, and after teaching at various high schools in
9Wisconsin and Michigan became a respected and renowned professor at Silver Lake
10College of Manitowoc, established and operated by her order; and

AJR26,1,1411 Whereas, Sister's love and concern for the future of agriculture and the role of
12farm women in agriculture lead her to be a co-founder of Wisconsin Women for
13Agriculture, charter member of American Agri-Women, and founding member of the
14International Chamber of Agriculture; and

AJR26,2,6

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1Whereas, Sister Thomas More Bertels championed numerous causes on behalf
2of agriculture and the agricultural product producers not only by example, but also
3by word as expressed in her essay "A Call To Power", her book entitled "In Pursuit
4of Agri Power: The One Thing North American Farmers and Ranchers Can't
5Produce", and written features in the books "It Takes A Hero" and "Women of
6Northeast Wisconsin Dreamers and Doers"; and

AJR26,2,137 Whereas, in her lifetime, Sister received countless awards and recognition of
8her achievements academically, and on behalf of agriculture, such as: being named
9Outstanding Educator of America; founding member of the Center for International
10Security Studies of the American Security Council Education Foundation,
11appointment to the Board of Governors of the Wisconsin State Bar; and the
12prestigious Outstanding Achievement, Leaven, and Veritas awards of the American
13Agri-Women; and

AJR26,2,2014 Whereas, affectionately, Sister was considered by her dearest friends in life to
15be a mentor; a motivator; a "Flying Farmers Nun" because of her many travels
16worldwide on behalf of agriculture; one provoking action and setting a standard as
17a goal for farm women; God's voice of reason for American agriculture; a "hell-raising
18nun" who stirred people to think about solutions to their problems; one who
19possessed a "kick-in-the-pants" approach to farmer's problems; an Agri-Women
20Sister; a dear friend; and "our dear Sister T. More"; now, therefore, be it