Unruh, Helena Schultz (1869-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Aug 25 p. 8

Birth date: 1869 Nov 15

text of obituary:

HELENA SCHULTZ UNRUH

Helena Schultz Unruh, daughter of Henry T. and Anna Foth Schultz, was born Nov. 15, 1869, in Michalin, Russia.

At the age of five she emigrated to America with her parents, coming to Yankton, Dakota Territory on Sept. 10, 1874

The following year her parents came to the Avon, S. Dak. community, where her father homesteaded the farm now owned by her son William and which remained her home or over 80 years.

Several years after settling here her father passed away, and she with her mother and younger brothers experienced many of the privations and bitter experiences of pioneer life.

On confession of her faith in Christ, she was baptized by Elder Benjamin Schmidt and received into the fellowship of the Mennonite church where she remained a faithful member until her departure from this life.

On Feb. 18, 1886, she was united in marriage to the late Rev. H. P. Unruh who preceded her in death almost 11 years ago. To this union were born eight children, two of whom preceded her in death, an infant son Jonathan, and a daughter Susan, Mrs. Carl Schmidt.

There remain to mourn her departure six children, Ben of Sioux Falls, Peter of Springfield, Anthony of Bloomfield, Mont., Elizabeth, Anna and William of Avon; 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Jacob of Warman, Sask., David of Richey, Mont., and Henry of Dallas, Ore., besides a host of distant relatives and friends.

After a long, lingering illness her earthly sojourn came to an end on July 30, 1955. She reached the age of 85 years eight months and 15 days.

Memorial services were conducted from the Friedensburg church south of Avon, So. Dak. on Aug. 1 at 2:00 o’clock. Rev. John Dirks of Tyndall officiated, using as his text Psalm 116:15. Interment was made in the nearby church cemetery.

We as a family will miss her very much, but we do not sorrow as those who have no hope.

The Mennonite obituary: 1955 Nov 1 p. 688