Schmidt, Mary Richert (1891-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Dec 8 p. 1

Birth date: 1891 Nov 7

text of obituary:

Services Held For Accident Victims

MRS. JOHN F. SCHMIDT & MRS. ARNOLD GOERTZEN ARE FATALLY INJURED

The sudden deaths of Mrs. John F. Schmidt, 64, and Mrs. Arnold Goertzen, 57,in a two-car collision eight miles north of Walton last Sunday morning came as a shock to their many relatives and friends in the Goessel and Newton communities.

Funeral services for Mrs. Schmidt were held Wednesday afternoon at the Goessel Mennonite Church, in charge of Rev. Leo Miller assisted by Rev. P. P. Buller. Services for Mrs. Geortzen were arranged for Thursday afternoon at the Tabor Mennonite Church, Rev. H. B. Schmidt officiating.

The two women were passengers in cars driven by their husbands, the Schmidts traveling south and the Goertzens going west toward the Tabor church. They collided at the Heimbaugh School corner. It is believed that Mrs. Schmidt was killed instantly. Mrs. Goertzen passed away a few minutes after being admitted to the Bethesda hospital in Goessel.

Mr. Goertzen suffered fractures of the left wrist and several ribs. Mr. Schmidt received head injuries. Both are patients at the Bethesda Hospital.

Mrs. Schmidt, the former Marie Richert, is survived by her husband and two children, Carl Schmidt and Mrs. Henry S. Hiebert of Walton. Her death marked the second tragedy in the family in a week’s time, her grandson Henry John Hiebert having died Nov. 27 as a result of an accidental gunshot wound.

Mrs. Goertzen, the former Eva Janzen, leaves her husband and five children, Mrs. Ernest Goertz of Peabody, Mrs. Gordon Neuenschwander of Berne, Indiana, Milton of Rural newton, Mrs. Charles Unruh of Denver, and Orlando, student at Bethel College.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Dec 29 p.8

text of obituary:

MARY RICHERT SCHMIDT

Mary Richert Schmidt, daughter of Heinrich and Helena Schmidt Richert, was born Nov. 7, 1891, on a farm southwest of Goessel.

She received her elementary education in the South Blumenfield school and graduated from the Goessel Preparatory school in 1911. She later attended Bethel College Academy. She taught Bible school for grade school children in Oklahoma and at different schools in Kansas before he marriage.

On June 4, 1911, she was baptized by Rev. Heinrich Banman upon confession of her faith in Jesus Christ and joined the Alexanderwohl church where she was active as Sunday school teacher and in other ways. When the Goessel Mennonite church was organized in 1920, she transferred her membership to that church and was active as long as health permitted.

On Dec. 13, 1917, she was married to John F. Schmidt. About two weeks later her sister-in-law, Mrs. William Schmidt, passed away and we moved in with Bro. William to take care of Esther, three years old, and assist with household duties. In the summer of 1918 we established our home on the farm near Goessel.

In January of 1919 when the flu epidemic struck the community, we were not spared. Mrs. Schmidt never fully recovered, leaving her heart nerves and muscles in a weakened condition. She learned to live with this condition, although it meant giving up outside activities. It often caused her anxiety and concern when she could not be more active.

In 1924 we adopted two orphaned children, a brother and sister — Hazel, six, and Carl, four years of age — whom she loved dearly and tried to bring up in the fear of the Lord. They brought much sunshine into our home.

Her life was not strewn with roses. She had to battle with a heart ailment and high blood pressure, which require that he give up many church and social activities. In the fall of 1948 a small blood vessel ruptured in one eye which reduced her vision permanently. In the spring of 1952 the same thing happened to the other eye, with the result that her vision was very much impaired. She could not read without magnifying glasses, nor could she recognize people at a distance.

The tragedy that happened to our children, Hazel and Henry Hiebert, when their son was fatally injured the past Thanksgiving Day moved her deeply and gave her much concern. Sunday morning, Dec. 4, she prepared a meal for our grief stricken children and their family with the intention of taking it over to them and caring for their youngest daughter, who had been hospitalized a week before, so that the rest of the family could go to Sunday school and church service. While en route, we met a car collision at a country road intersection, resulting in her instant death.

She leaves to mourn her departure her deeply bereaved husband; the children, Hazel and Henry Hiebert and family, Carl and Irma Schmidt and family; three sisters and their families; two brothers, and one sister-in-law.

Her parents, one brother, two sisters-in-law and one grandson preceded her in death. She reached the age of 64 years and 27 days. If she had lived to Dec. 13, 1955, we would have lived together 38 years.

We mourn, but not as those who have no hope. "But I Would not have you ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." (I Thess. 4:13.) John F. Schmidt and Family.