Kauffman, Reuben S. (1910-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Mar 29 p. 8

Birth date: 1910 Jul 31

text of obituary:

REUBEN S. KAUFFMAN

Reuben S. Kauffman, 93, of Condon, Mont., died Feb. 16, 2004, in Missoula. He was born July 31, 1910, to N.L. “Roy” and Anna (Snyder) Kauffman in Wellman, Iowa. When he was 8 months old his family moved to Montana.

On Sept. 22, 1940, he married Sadie Miller in Bloomfield.

He served during World War II at two Civilian Public Service camps. In 1947 they moved to the Swan Valley, where they lived the rest of his life.

He was a rancher, logger, carpenter and school bus driver. He helped build many summer homes at area lakes, as well as Mountain View Mennonite Church, all a testament to his carpentry skills.

His favorite hobby was genealogy, and he spent many hours tracing his family tree back to Germany and Switzerland. He put time and effort into the Kauffman family reunion held biennially at Bitterroot Lake. He was an avid hunter and spent many years as camp cook for the hunting camps he helped set up in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He enjoyed woodworking and made lamps, cedar chests, doors, cabinets, tables and other pieces.

He served many years on the SOS Hospital board and as president of the Swan Valley School PTA. He helped with child evangelism and summer Bible school.

He was a lifelong member of the Mennonite church. He taught Sunday school for many years in the Swan Valley. For more than 30 years, he and his wife traveled the 60 miles to Creston to attend Sunday school and worship services there.

Survivors include his wife, Sadie; five children, Gwen Kauffman and her husband, Paul, of Wolford, N.D., Lowell and his wife, Pauline, of Missoula, Nathan and his wife, Fern, of Condon, Myrene Iverson and her husband, Jerry, of Long Lake, Minn., and Carol and her husband, Dennis, of Lebanon, Pa.; six brothers, Paul, Aldine, Norman and Joseph, all of Kalispell, David of Whitefish and James of Marion; five sisters, Mary Slater of Homedale, Idaho, Berniece Reimer of Newton, Kan., Lillie Weber of Guernsey, Sask., Rosella Eby of Drake, Sask., and Gladys Reimer of Whitewater, Kan.; 19 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Jere; a brother, Sanford; and two sisters, Mabel Miller and Ruth Stutzman.

Services were held at Mountain View Mennonite Church of Creston. Burial was in the Creston Cemetery.