Dyck, Helena Friesen Schmidt (1856-1944)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1944 Apr 4 p. 14

Birth date: 1856 Dec 20

text of obituary:

Mutter Helena Dyck wurde geboren im Dorfe Hamberg, Süd Rußland am 20. Dezember 1856. Ihre Eltern waren Martin Friesen und Helena Driediger. Sie genoß hier ihre Schulbildung in der Dorfsschule unter dem Lehrer Heinrich Banman, später Aeltester der Alexanderwohl Gemeinde in Kansas. Sie bekehrte sich und wurde auf das Bekenntnis ihres Glaubens von Aeltester Isaak Peters getauft am Pfingsttage 1876. In Amerika schloß sie sich der Hoffnungsau Gemeinde an, deren Glied sie blieb. Fast 20 Jahre alt kam sie mit Eltern nach Buhler, Kansas. Am 20. November 1879 heiratete sie Jacob Schmidt, mit dem sie bis zum 9. Juni 1898 Freude und Leid teilen durfte. Sein Tod war für sie ein schwerer Schlag und sie fühlte den Verlust schwer. Ihnen wurden 9 Kinder geboren. Eine Tochter von 6 Monaten und ein Sohn von beinahe 8 Jahren starben. Sie blieb mit ihren Kindern auf der Farm 1 ½ Meilen süd von der Hoffnungsau Kirche bis die Kinder alle erwachsen, und sagte oft, der Herr habe wunderbar geführet und durchgeholfen. Im Oktober 1910 heiratete sie und zwar Johann C. Dyck mit dem sie bis zum 8. Juli 1919 Freude und Leid teilte. Sie wohnten damals in Buhler, und wieder blieb sie allein zurück, da ihre Kinder alle ihre eigenen Heime gegründet hatten. Dieses war für sie wieder ein schwerer Schlag. Sie blieb für einige Zeit allein in ihrem Haim, da sie aber älter und schwächer wurde war sie abwechselnd bei ihren Kindern. Sie fühlte nun während dieser Zeit die Einsamkeit besonders und sie war bereit in die obere Heimat einzugehen. Mitte Februar fingen ihre Kräfte an abzunehmen und Sonntag gegen Abend Februar 20, wurde sie nach Newton ins Hospital genommen, doch am 3. März entschlief sie. Sie hinterläßt 3 Söhne mit Familien: Jacob und Cornelius von Buhler und Heinrich von Moundridge, und 4 Töchter mit Familien: Helena, Mrs. A. J. Voth, Moundridge, Anna, Mrs. H. H. Flaming und Maria, Mrs. H. H. Ediger, Buhler, und Margaretha, Mrs. A. J. Dyck, Inman; weiter 3 Stiefsöhne mit ihren Familien und 4 Stieftöchter mit ihren Familien. auch 36 Großkinder und 28 Urgroßkinder und viele Freunde Peter D. Friesen, Colby, Kansas ist der einzige von ihren Geschwistern, der sie überlebt. Sie hat ihr Alter gebracht auf 87 J. 2 M. und 13 Tage.

Wie selig die Ruhe bei Jesu im Licht,
Tod, Sünde und Schmerzen, die kennt man dort nicht.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Mar 9 p. t

text of obituary:

Local News

. . .

— Funeral services for the aged Grandmother Helen Dyck of Buhler, who died at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital last Friday, march 3, were held at the Hoffnungsau church near Inman Monday afternoon. Rev. A. J. Dyck of the church, was in charge. Grandmother Dyck had reached the advanced age of 87 years and was among the first Mennonite settlers coming to Buhler from Russia shortly after 1874. Following the death of her first husband, Jacob Schmidt, who died about 35 years ago, she was married to John C. Dyck. Mr. Dyck also preceded her in death by about 15 years. She is survived by the following sons and daughters: Jac. F. Schmidt, Henry F. Schmidt, C. J. Schmidt, Mrs. A. J. Voth, Mrs. H. H. Flaming, Mrs. H. H. Ediger and Mrs. A. J. Dyck, all of the Buhler-Inman neighborhood.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Apr 6 p. 3

text of obituary:

MRS. HELENA F. DYCK

Helena F. Dyck, nee Friesen, was born in the village of Hamberg in South Russia on December 20, 1856. She was the daughter of Martin Friesen and Helena Driedger. She lived in southern Russia till she was 19 years of age and received her education in the village school, having Heinrich Bahnman as her teacher. He later was the pastor of the Alexanderwohl church in Kansas.

When she was 19 years of age she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized by Rev. Isaac Peters and joined the Mennonite church in Russia. When she came to America she united with the Hoffnungsau church, whose member she also was at the time of her death.

When she was almost 20 years of age her parents came to America in 1876 and settled on a farm about four miles east of Buhler in Harvey county, Kansas. Here she helped along in the pioneer days till she was united in marriage to our father, Jacob Schmidt, on Nov. 20, 1879. With him she was permitted to share joys and hardships for only 18½ years, when he was called to his reward. This seemed almost unbearable for her, but she later often said the Lord blessed and helped wonderfully. To this union nine children were born, four sons and five daughters, of whom one daughter in infancy and one son at the age of eight years were taken from her side.

She remained on a farm one and one-half miles south of the Hoffnungsau church till in October, 1910, she again united in marriage, this time with Johann C. Dyck, with whom she lived and shared the joys and sorrows of life till he passed to his reward on July 8, 1919. Again she was left behind and this time alone, since all of her children had established their own homes. She lived in Buhler till her health began to fail and she could not live alone any longer. She then made her home with her children alternately. she now felt her loneliness very keenly and was ready to depart from this world. She put her faith and trust and hope in Christ, who she said had cleansed her from all guilt. About the middle of February her health began to fail rapidly and she was taken to the Bethel Hospital on February 20. But even with the doctor's best of help and the best possible care from the sisters her strength grew less till on March 3 at 10:20 she quietly, without any struggle, passed to her eternal reward, where she will see Him face to face in whom she believed. We tender to her this quiet rest after a life full of toil and loneliness, and merely say: "Till we meet again in the presence of Christ, our Saviour."

She leaves to mourn her departure three sons, Jacob and family and Cornelius and family of Buhler, and Henry and family of Moundridge; four daughters with their husband and children, Helena, Mrs. A. J. Voth, Moundridge; Anna, Mrs. H. H. Flaming and Maria, Mrs. H. H. Ediger of Buhler; and Margaret, Mrs. A. J. Dyck of Inman. Also three step-sons and their families and four step-daughters and their families survive. Further there remain 36 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren; also 16 step-grandchildren and 7 step great-grandchildren; one brother Peter D. Friesen of Colby, Kansas, and many other relatives and friends.

She reached the age of 87 years, 2 months and 13 days.

— The bereaved family.