Ollenberger, Elizabeth Seibel (1870-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jul 19 p. 8

Birth date: 1870 Apr 30

text of obituary:

ELIZABETH OLLENBERGER

Elizabeth Seibel Ollenberger, daughter of Christof and Scharlotta Seibel, was born April 30, 1870, in Russia.

In 1876, at the age of six, she came with her parents to America and settled in Marion county, Kansas. Here she spent her childhood days.

As a young girl, she recognized her lost condition and accepted Christ as her personal Savior. She was baptized upon her confession of faith and joined the Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren church for fellowship. To her Lord and her church she remained faithful to the end.

On October 23, 1888, she was joined in holy matrimony with our father, Charley Ollenberger. Father passed on to be with the Lord June, 1945 at his daughter's home near Booker, Texas. This union was blessed with 10 children, four sons and six daughters, all still living.

In 1894 our parents moved to Fairview, Oklahoma. In 1915, we moved to Beaver County. Since 1945, mother has made her home in California.

One of the scenes that became very familiar to us as children was to find mother in her favorite chair, reading her Bible. Her unfailing faith was anchored in God's Word. This remained her comfort to the very end.

The last years of our mother's life were spent in the Reedley Home for the Aged. Here she received good care and was satisfied except for a great longing to go home to be with the Lord. For several years she has been an invalid. On June 4 of this year she had the misfortune of falling out of bed and breaking her leg. She spent a few days in the hospital and then returned again to her room in the home.

It was in the Home for the Aged that the Master called her and she quietly slipped away to be with the Lord on Friday, July 6, 1956. She reached the age of 86 years, 2 months, and 13 days.

Among those who remain to mourn her departure are her 10 children: Charley Ollenberger, Buhler, Kan., Albert Ollenberger, Fresno, Calif., John Ollenberger, Clovia, Calif., Ed Ollenberger, Grey, Okla., Lizzie, Mrs. Jackson, Lamar, Colo., Lydia, Mrs. Patzowsky, Falfurrias, Texas, Anna, Mrs. Litke, Reedley, Calif., Lea, Mrs. Just, Fresno, Calif., Nada, Mrs. Penner, Bakersfield, Calif, and Ella, Mrs. Reynolds, Booker, Texas.

Besides these, there are 48 grandchildren, 81 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. — The Children