Nissen, Berthena (Beard) , 87, passed away Friday, April 3, 2015. She was born in Wichita, Kansas to Orie Craig Beard and Beulah (Murray) Beard. She was raised in the Valley Center, Kansas area and was a 1945 graduate of Valley Center High School. In 1946 she married the love of her life, Roland Nissen. She was a homemaker and worked outside of the home as an Office Secretary at the Valley Center Jr. High School. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the United Methodist Church in Valley Center. She loved teaching piano. Berthena retired from the Coleman Company, specializing in Payroll Data Entry. She is survived by her children Diana Koehn of Cary, NC, Daylene McCartney of El Dorado Springs, MO and Niel Nissen aka Velkinaut of Wichita, KS; grandchildren Casey (Kristina) McCartney of KC and Angela McCartney of Ohio; great grandchildren Abigail and Lydia McCartney; many other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Roland Nissen, son-in-law Bart McCartney, parents Orie and Beulah Beard.

Services will be held 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 8 at First United Methodist Church, 560 N. Park, Valley Center, Kansas. Memorials may be designated in her memory to the Alzheimer's Association. Baker Funeral Home Valley Center. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com