Voth, Helen Klassen (1873-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Dec 16 p. 5

Birth date: 1873 Jul 18

text of obituary:

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— A large number of friends and relatives attended funeral services for Mrs. H. J. Voth at the Alexanderwohl church last Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Voth’s death came without warning as a result of a heart attack at 4:30 a. m. on Dec. 9. Only the day before she had helped with the butchering. Services at the church were conducted by Rev. P. A. Wedel and Rev. C. C. Wedel and were preceded by a brief service at the Bergen Funeral Home, Goessel. A quartet composed of Eldon and Milton Reimer, Jacob Flaming, and Otto Janzen sang. Mrs. Voth is survived by her husband, an adopted son, Ernest Voth of Goessel; and five brothers, P. J. and David Klassen of Hillsboro, A. J. Klassen of Newton, Ben Klassen of Goessel, and J. J. Klassen of Moundridge.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Dec 23 p. 3

text of obituary:

HELEN KLASSEN VOTH

Helen Klassen Voth was born July 18, 1873, in South Russia. She was the daughter of Johann and Sarah Unruh Klassen. In 1875 she emigrated to the U. S. with her parents at the age of two years. The family made their home in the South Blumenfeld community, southwest of Goessel, Kansas. She attended public schools and also the parochial school of Rev. Peter Balzer from the home of her parents.

She was baptized upon confession of faith in her Redeemer May 18, 1893, by the Elder Jacob Buller.

Nov. 16, 1893, she was united in Holy Wedlock to Henry J. Voth, with whom she shared life's joys and sorrows for over 55 years. On Dec. 16, 1918, they celebrated their silver wedding anniversary and in the year of 1943 the golden anniversary.

Their foster child, Emma Thurman, came to their home at the age of 6 years, in 1897, and remained with them until she was married to Peter Enns. On Jan. 12, 1908, an infant daughter was born to them, but passed away at birth.

On March 31, 1909, Frieda was adopted into their home at the age of ten weeks. On March 16, 1916, Ernest was adopted as an infant child. Pete Klassen, son of Gerhard Klassen, a nephew, stayed in their home from the age of 2 to 15 years, from 1927 to 1940.

The departed enjoyed good health all her life, with the exception of occasional headaches and shortness of breath. On account of blood-poisoning in her hand she had three operations in 1932, from which she completely recovered.

She was very active in the mission societies of her church and belonged to three of them at the time of her death. She was a faithful member of the Alexanderwohl church, attended the services regularly, and was greatly interested in the welfare of her children and grandchildren.

Frieda, Mrs. J. J. Flaming, preceded her in death Aug. 6, 1947. The sudden death caused by accident made a deep impression upon the mother, and she too looked in faith to the hereafter with the words of the poet who wrote: "Not now but in the coming years, It may be in the better land, We'll read the meaning of our tears, And there, sometime we'll understand. We'll catch the broken threads again, and finish what we here begun. Heaven will the mysteries explain, And then, ah, then we'll understand."

Emma, Mrs. Peter Enns preceded her in death in 1914; also two half-sisters and two half-brothers preceded her in death.

The departed was always very active, even to the last day of her life. She retired as usual after a hard day's work and died early the next morning from a heart attack. She reached the age of 75 years 4 months and 21 days.

She leaves to mourn her sudden departure her deeply sorrowing husband, Henry J. Voth, her children Ernest Voth and wife Helena; her son-in-law J. J. Flaming and wife Esther; four grandchildren; 6 brothers and their families, Peter J. Klassen, Hillsboro, Abraham J. Klassen, Newton, Jacob J. Klassen, Moundridge, Henry J. Klassen, Halstead, David J. Klassen, Hillsboro, Bernhard J. Klassen, Goessel; two sisters-in-law and their families, and many other relatives and friends.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord . . . Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13.