Baumgartner, Bertha I. (1878-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Aug 2 p. 5

Birth date: 1878 August 7, Missouri
Date of Death: 1962 July 22, Kansas

text of obituary:

. . .

• Funeral services were conducted Monday forenoon at the First Mennonite Church of Halstead for Miss Bertha Baumgartner, 83, who died Friday, July 17, at the Bethel Home for Aged in Newton, having been a resident of the home since November 1960. The services were conducted by Dr. D. C. Wedel of Winfild. A resident of Halstead most of her life, Miss Baumgartner was a registered nurse and former superintendent of nurses at the Halstead Hospital. She is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Rachel Barnjum and Mrs. Adam Fehr of Halstead and Miss Jennie Baumgartner of the Bethel Home and one brother, Milton of Stillwater, Okla.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Aug 9 p. 8

text of obituary:

BERTHA I. BAUMGARTNER

Bertha I. Baumgartner was born in Morgan County, Missouri on August 7, 1878 and with her parents moved to Harvey County, Kansas in 1884.

She was baptized and united with the Halstead First Mennonite Church in May 1894. After attending Bethel College, Newton, and teaching school a year in Garden Township, in 1909 she took up the study of nursing at the Halstead Hospital, graduating March 28, 1911.

She was Superintendent of Nurses at Axtell Hospital, Newton, and at Augusta Hospital from 1912 to 1921. She was a most efficient and beloved Superintendent of Nurses at the Halstead Hospital from 1923 until 1933. At various times she served as night supervisor and floor supervisor. For many years she was president of the Halstead Hospital Nurses Alumni Association, and has held offices in the Kansas State Nursing Association. In 1912 she spent six months in Cook County Hospital, Chicago, doing postgraduate work, and again in Grace Hospital, Detroit, in 1918.

During her tenure in the Halstead Hospital, many nurses in training received the benefit of “B.I.B's” skillful teaching and wise counselling. She was a beloved and gifted woman who gave of herself untiringly, truly a Kansas Lady with the Lamp. She was active in church mission circles, a charter member of the Dorcas Mission Society, and served as secretary many years in the Senior Mission Society. She was a charter member of the Reading Circle, and also of the Wimodausts.

She occupied a special niche in the family; not only was she the comfort and stay of her parents and later of her brothers and sisters, but also down through the generations, she continued to be a great help and comfort.

In November 1960, with her sister Jane, she moved to the Bethel Home in Newton. For a year and a half she bore her increasingly severe illness with cheerfulness and Christian fortitude. She passed away quietly Friday morning, July 27, leaving to mourn her passing her sisters Jane of the Bethel Home, Mrs. Adam (Rose) Fehr and Mrs. Rachel Barnjum of Halstead, and her brother Milton of Stillwater, Okla.

Funeral Services were held July 30, 1962 at 10:00 a.m. in th First Mennonite Church in Halstead with Dr. D. C. Wedel officiating. Mrs. John Will sang “Be Still My Soul” and “Abide With Me” with Mrs. Ruth Rose as organist. Nephews served as casket bearers. Burial was made in the Halstead Cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1962 Aug 28 p. 556

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Excelsior, Missouri
Daughter of Abraham D. and Barbara (Gerber) Baumgartner
Single
Nurse -- Newton, Augusta, and Halstead, Kansas

Bethel alumni note:
Bethel student 1895-1897

Photo holdings:
Individual -- Newton, Kansas (2 copies)
Individual (as nurse) -- 1909
With 9 female students -- 1896-1897 Newton, Kansas

Sources:
Alumni card
Obituary
Welty history 1926? p. 372-373
Bd Ms 3 (Halstead) p. 134-135
Grandma Online profile 815361
Find A Grave 35033389