Nickel, Anna H. Warkentin Bergen (1886-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Dec 13 p. 9

Birth date: 1886 Dec 19

text of obituary:

ANNA H. NICKEL

Our mother, Mrs. Anna Nickel was born on Dec. 19, 1886, in Lichtenau, Molotschna, Russia. Her parents were Bernard and Anna Harder Warkentin.

She came to America in June, 1875 and settled in Kansas. Here she accepted Christ as her Saviour and on Dec. 5, 1886, was baptized by Elder Dietrich Gaeddert.

On March 1, 1891, she was married to Henry Bergen, herewith becoming a mother to his three orphaned children. Seven children were born to this union. After 24 years of married life her husband passed away July 27, 1915.

On Feb. 11, 1920, she was united in marriage with Peter E. Nickel and again took a mother’s place to 10 children. On July 6, 1940, she was again left a widow through the death of our father.

Mother was sick often and went through many hardships but she always kept her faith in God. When her sight failed and she could read no more, she quoted Scripture and songs that she had memorized. When she took sick Oct. 28 she expressed no desire to get well again, only a great longing to go home to be with the Lord. Her desire was fulfilled Saturday morning, Nov. 3, at 1:30 a.m. when she gently fell asleep. She reached the age of 84 years, 10 months and 14 days.

She leaves to mourn her departure seven children, Mrs. Lena Bahr of Chinook, Mont., Mrs. Justina Dalke of Chino, Calif., Jake Bergen of Hutchinson, Kans., Mrs. Louise Powell of Fargo, North Dakota, George Bergen, of Clinton, Okla., Mrs. Martha Clemmer of Tacoma, Wash., Mrs. Bertha Nickel of Clinton, Okla.; 33 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren; one brother, B. B. Warkentin of Inman, Kans.; one sister, Mrs. Helena Pauls of Inman, Kans.; 13 stepchildren and 44 step-grandchildren.

Funeral services at the home at 1:00 o’clock and at the Herold Mennonite church at 2:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 7, were conducted by Rev. Richard Tschetter and Rev. Henry Hege. Music was rendered by the ladies quartet and the ladies trio. Interment at the church cemetery.