Kauffman, Mary Steckly (1861-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Nov 23 p. 6

Birth date: 1861 Mar 9

text of obituary:

MRS MARY KAUFFMAN

Mary, daughter of Christian and Mary (Gasho) Steckly, was born near Zurich, Ont., March 9, 1861. She quietly and peacefully passed away Nov. 4, 1950, age 89 years, seven months and 25 days.

She became a member of the Mennonite church before her marriage to Daniel D. Kauffman on Jan. 29, 1885. To this union were born five children: N. L. Kauffman of Creston, Mont., Mrs. George Hoylman of Creston, Mrs. Sam Hoylman of Kalispell, Mont., Mrs. Frank Lapp of Columbia Falls, Mont., Mrs. J. C. Slatter of Kalispell, Mont.

Besides her five children she leaves 35 grandchildren and 49 great grandchildren: three sisters, Mrs. Barbara Whitaker of Albany, Ore., Mrs. Annie Swartzendruber of Wichita, Kans., Mrs. Lydia Whitaker of LaHabra, Calif., and a foster daughter, Mrs. Sam Leu of Harper, Kans.

After the death of her husband in 1934 at South English, Iowa, she came to Montana and made her home almost exclusively with her eldest daughter, Mrs. George Hoylman, near Creston.

She was blessed with good health all of her life. She went to church every Sunday until the last 18 months when she became too feeble. She was only bedfast two weeks. She truly loved her Lord and had pleasure in serving Him. The last year of her life she often made the remark, “Lord, you know everything, take me to Glory."

Funeral services were held In Kalispell, Monday, Nov. 6, by D. D. Brenneman of the Creston congregation, after which the body was sent to South English, Iowa for burial beside her husband. She was a charter member of the Mt. View congregation near Creston.