Baergen, Katherine Peters (1871-1942)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1942 Aug 11 p. 14-15

Birth date: 1871 Nov 25, S. Russia
Date of Death: 1942 July 21, Oklahoma

text of obituary:

Mutter Katherine Peters Baergen wurde am 25. Nov. 1871 in Süd-Rußland geboren als Tochter von Johann und Katherine Unruh Peters. 1884 kamen sie nach Moundridge, Kansas ins Pionierleben. Am 26. Dez. 1889 ward sie von Aelt. D. Gaeddert getauft und Glied der Hoffnungsau Gemeinde bei Buhler. 1891 den 22. Nov. heiratete sie Peter G. Baergen und es wurden ihnen 4 Söhne und 4 Töchter geschenkt. Sie durften die goldene Hochzeit miteinander feiern. 1894 zogen sie nach Corn, Okla., wo sie seither auf der Farm gewohnt. die ersten jahre waren hart. Hier schlossen sie sich der Bergtal Gemeinde an, wo sie Glied blieb und immer Freude am Hause Gottes hatte. Mehrere Jahre lehrte sie in der S. S., und war im Nähverein tätig, zeitweilig als Vorsitzerin. Das Mutterherz blutete als im ersten Weltkriege 2 ihrer Söhne eingezogen wurden, und einer schwerkrank heimkam und von ihr hingebend gepflegt ward. Das griff ihre Nerven an. Dazu gesellte sich Ekzema, wovon sie sich nie ganz erholte, konnte aber ihre Hausarbeit usw. verrichten. Vor 3 Jahren ward es schlimmer, und sie mußte sich zuletzt ganz pflegen lassen. Im Mai 1941 ward sie in Newton vom Arzt behandelt. Der Tod ihrer Tochter Anna Baergen Ratzlaff im Nov. 1941 war für sie ein harter Schlag. Seit März 1942 ward sie in Weatherford behandelt. Einem leichten Schlag folgte am 15. Juli ein zweiter und am 21. Juli 1942 um 2 Uhr morgens entschlief sie im Alter von 70 J. 7 M. und 25 Tagen. Sie hinterläßt ihren Gatten, 5 Kinder und ein Plegekind [sic]: Kath. Mrs. C. E. Nickel und Elizabeth im Heim; 3 Söhne, George, LaHabre, Calif.; John, Villa Park, Ill.; Samuel, Wichita, Kansas; und Ralph Peters, Berkeley, Calif. und Familien; dazu 2 Brüder, John J. Peters, Monroe, Wash. und J. A. Peters, Meadow Lake, Sask. nebst vielen Freunden, die trauern aber nicht ohne Hoffnung. Beim Begräbnis sprach Missionar J. B. Ediger aus Clinton im Hause und in der Kirche dienten Br. Franzen und Pred. H. Hege. Text Ps. 37:3 und 1. Thes. 4:13 – 14 und 18.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1942 Aug 13 p. 3

text of obituary:

Mrs. Katherine Peters Baergen

Our wife and mother, Katherine Peters Baergen was born Nov. 25, 1871, in South Russia. Her parents were John and Katherine Unruh Peters. In 1884 she emigrated with her parents to America where they settled on a farm west of Moundridge, Kansas. Here she learned to know the rigors of early pioneer life.

On Dec. 26, 1889, she was baptized upon her confession of faith by Rev. Diedrich Gaeddert and became a member of the Hoffnungsau church.

In the year 1891, on Nov. 22, she entered the holy state of matrimony. Over 50 years were we allowed to enjoy the blessings and sorrows of married life. it was a source of great joy to mother that we were able to celebrate our golden wedding with our children and many friends. Our union was blessed with 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls, of whom 3 children, 1 boy and 2 girls preceded the mother into eternity.

In the fall of 1894 we migrated with other families to Oklahoma, where we settled in our present home. The first years in Oklahoma were difficult and mother always did her share of the hard work gladly, and with the help of the Lord we found our way through.

Here we joined the Bergthal church where mother was an active member until death called her away. It was a joy for her to go to church and Sunday School, or prayer meeting. she was Sunday School teacher for several years. She was very active in the sewing and mission circle of which she was a charter member and served as president for several years. It was a joy to work for her Lord whom she loved. Her place in church was seldom empty. She was an earnest listener and always did her part in the work to the honor of God.

The mother heart bled when 2 of her boys (George and John) were called to the army in the first world war. And when one of the boys fell seriously ill, the mother sat by the bedside day after day for several months in the army hospital. Her love and devotion triumphed, her earnest prayers were answered and her son got well.

At the end of the war it was found that her nervous system had been terribly weakened by the ordeal. Soon high blood pressure added itself. And when finally a serious attack of eczema came mother's health began to fail noticeably. In fact she never fully recuperated. But she was patient and trusting in her Saviour and carried on her work the best she could. Three years ago her nervous condition became worse and gradually she had to depend fully upon the care of her loved ones, who did everything to make mother's life as pleasant as possible. The youngest daughter Elizabeth left her position of teaching to be with the mother constantly during the last year. In May, 1941 we went with mother to Newton where we stayed a month in the Old People's Home and mother was under the care of the doctor. In July 1941 we went to Chicago where help was sought and partly found from a doctor. We remained there till Dec. 1. The death of her daughter Anna Baergen Ratzlaff (Mrs. J. A. Ratzlaff) was a hard blow for mother. As she said herself, How gladly she would have died for her child. That is the cry of every mother's heart. But here too as always, the will and wish of her Heavenly father was supreme in her life. Since last March mother was under the care of Dr. Gaede of Weatherford. At first her condition seemed to better. But gradually her nervous as well as her physical power began to diminish. Before she went to Weatherford, she suffered a light stroke. On the 15th of July 1942 she had another light stroke which paralysed her tongue. She sank into a coma from which she never fully awoke. When, in a moment of consciousness, she was asked last Friday if Jesus would soon come and take her home she answered with a happy smile and a yes. Those were her last words. She quietly went to sleep in the Lord at 2 o'clock in the morning July 21, 1942. She reached the age of 70 years, 7 months and 25 days.

She leaves to mourn her death; her husband Peter G. Baergen, 5 children and a foster child. There are 2 daughters: Katherine, Mrs. E. E. Nickel, who lived in the home with the parents, and Elizabeth. The 3 sons are, Rev. George Baergen of LaHabra, Calif., Rev. John Baergen of Villa park, Ill., and Sam Baergen of Wichita, Kansas, Ralph Peters, who was raised from babyhood in the home, of Berkely, Calif., and a son-in-law J. A. Ratzlaff and children. There are 7 grandchildren, 2 brothers; John J. Peters of Monroe, Washington, and J. A. Peters of Meadow Lake, Sask., Canada, besides a large circle of other relatives and friends.

We mourn the passing of our beloved mother. But we have the joy to know that she is with the Lord and that we shall see her again. Mother's eyes were lifted to the mountains from whence came her help. Especially in the last month when she felt that her day of departure to be with her Lord drew near. There she is now with her loved ones and there we shall meet her again.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
South Russia
Daughter of John and Kataherine (Unruh) Peters
Married Peter G. Baergen 1891 November 22
Homemaker -- Cordell, Oklahoma

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
See Peter G. Baergen (1865-1962) for family photo

Sources:
Frandma Profile #143815
MWR 8/13/1942 p. 3
Baergen Heritage ... 1975 p. 9 #5-3